By: World Food Forum Philippines Youth Chapter (Contributor)
Youth leaders from across Southeast Asia convened during the Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Transformation Forum to discuss how young people can contribute to building sustainable, climate-resilient, and nutrition-sensitive food systems across the region.
The session was anchored by the presentation of the ASEAN Youth Pledge for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems, a collective commitment developed by youth representatives outlining shared priorities for strengthening food security, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring equitable access to nutritious food. The pledge also calls for meaningful youth participation in policymaking, emphasizing that youth should not only be consulted but empowered as partners in shaping food systems solutions.
Speakers highlighted that youth are already driving change at the community level through participatory research, nutrition dialogues, and local food initiatives that surface solutions grounded in community realities.
“Youth are already leading participatory consultations and nutrition dialogues that help identify barriers to healthy diets,” said Shanerisse Tamondong of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Youth Network. “These processes bring forward community-driven solutions and inform policies that are more inclusive and responsive.”
Photo Courtesy: ADB
The panel also featured Leunell Chris Buela of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Kinja Tauli of Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines, Jerrhad Hijara Nadonza of Mindanaw Seafood, Just Dagu-Ob of the Philippine Department of Agriculture, and Mariano “Ameta” Dacosta Alves of Café Organiku Atsabe in Timor-Leste, who shared experiences from their work across agriculture, Indigenous knowledge systems, public sector engagement, and sustainable food enterprises.
Across the region, youth-led initiatives are strengthening local food systems through community gardening, urban agriculture, and value-added enterprises using nutrient-dense and climate-resilient crops such as indigenous vegetables, traditional rice varieties, and root crops.
At the same time, speakers noted that youth leadership remains constrained by structural barriers, including limited access to land, financing, education, and decision-making spaces.
“Youth engagement often stops at consultation,” Tamondong emphasized.
“What we need is institutionalized youth leadership—where young people are not only heard but empowered to co-create and implement solutions.”
Participants underscored that transforming food systems will require stronger governance mechanisms that integrate youth perspectives across policy development, investment decisions, and program implementation.
As reflected in the ASEAN Youth Pledge, young people across Southeast Asia are ready not only to advocate for change but also to design, implement, and monitor solutions that ensure food systems deliver safe, nutritious, and sustainable diets for all. The ASEAN Youth Pledge was organized by Agrea Foundation and WFF Philippines, and supported by ADB Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office (AFNR).
