23/05. One of the side events at hashtag#AgrobioCongress2025 sparked a rich dialogue with Chinese students on "Can the diet of generation Zed (Gen Z) save Biodiversity? It was organised by GFAiR and PAFO.
Speakers:
Francois Stepman, Advisor Global forum for agricultural research and innovation (GFAiR)
Dr. Babafemi Oyewole, CEO of Pan African Farmers Organization (PAFO)
Gunsham Seeborun, President F.A.L.C.O.N. (Farmers in Agriculture, Livestock, Cooperative, Organic Network) from Mauritius and who succeededs Ms Elizabeth Nsimadala as the representative for the African Constituency for the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO)
Michael Waiyaki Nganga Founder & Ceo of Miti Alliance Ltd, a social enterprise whose focus is on planting and growing trees across Kenya.
Background
Generation Z in China, typically defined as those born between 1995 and 2010, is characterized by digital nativity, pragmatism, and strong national identity. Raised in an era of rapid economic growth, internet proliferation, and government-led modernization, they are highly tech-savvy and rely heavily on mobile platforms like WeChat, Douyin (TikTok), and Xiaohongshu for communication, entertainment, and shopping. Unlike previous generations, they are more individualistic yet socially conscious, showing interest in sustainability, local brands, and cultural pride. They value authenticity, creative self-expression, and experiences over material possessions, while also facing intense academic and career pressures shaped by China’s competitive environment.
Generation Z in Africa differs from China’s Gen Z in several keyways, shaped by distinct socio-economic, technological, and cultural contexts. While both are digitally savvy, Africa’s Gen Z often navigates digital spaces with more limited infrastructure—access to the internet and devices can be uneven, particularly in rural areas. This has led to high levels of creativity and innovation in using mobile-first platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok for entrepreneurship, activism, and education. Culturally, Africa’s Gen Z tends to be deeply community-oriented and entrepreneurial, driven by high youth unemployment and economic uncertainty. Many are engaged in side hustles, informal economies, or tech startups. In contrast, China’s Gen Z has broader access to structured education and formal job markets, with government policies more directly shaping their career paths. Politically, African Gen Z is often more outspoken, using social media for activism and social change. A notable example of Kenyan Gen Z is the #RejectFinanceBill2023 movement. Sparked primarily by young Kenyans, this online campaign protested proposed tax increases in the Finance Bill that were seen as harmful to low- and middle-income citizens.
Gen Z and biodiversity
Gen Z sees biodiversity not as a niche issue but as a defining challenge of their time
Generation Z relates to biodiversity issues with a strong sense of urgency, activism, and innovation, often viewing environmental protection as integral to their future and identity. Growing up amid visible climate impacts, habitat loss, and global species decline, many Gen Z individuals are deeply concerned about the planet’s ecological health.
They engage with biodiversity through digital advocacy, using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to raise awareness, share conservation content, and pressure governments and corporations to act. Campaigns for reforestation, wildlife protection, and sustainable consumption often gain traction among Gen Z audiences, who are more likely to adopt plant-based diets, support ethical brands, and participate in citizen science or local conservation efforts. Unlike previous generations, Gen Z blends environmental concerns with broader social justice narratives—linking biodiversity loss to Indigenous rights, food systems, and climate equity. They often seek holistic, intersectional solutions, and many are founding or joining startups, NGOs, and youth movements focused on regenerative agriculture, nature-based solutions, and protecting ecosystems.
Gen Z and funding
Youth can benefit from funding opportunities that link diet to improved biodiversity by engaging in initiatives such as school and community gardens, forgotten foods projects, and food waste valorization. Programs like Slow Food Gardens in Africa and the One Planet Network provide direct support—up to $15,000—for youth-led projects that promote agroecology, preserve indigenous crops, and teach sustainable food practices.
Through collective actions, such as write shops and consortia-building (e.g., with Foodbridge or universities), youth can access mentorship and resources to scale innovative solutions that enrich diets while conserving biodiversity. These opportunities empower youth to reclaim traditional food knowledge, diversify consumption habits, and contribute to food sovereignty and ecosystem health.
Video testimonies
Testimony by Angelo Rodriguez, coordinator of “El colectivo de Educación Ambiental Huerteros en Movimiento” (The Environmental Education Movement Collective Horticulturists), and representative of the International University Network on Cultural and Biological Diversity (IUNCBD) Cali, Colombia: “Youth Peace Seedbed”
Testimonies and presentations
Testimony by Oluwaferanmi Darasimi OLATILO. She is a Food Microbiologist, Gastronome, and Sustainable Food Systems Advocate. She currently work as the Director of Programs and Project Management and Internal Affairs, Slow Food Nigeria Network.
All around the world, it's not a new fact that young people are now redefining how we eat. But behind every meal - nutritious or otherwise, diverse or not diverse - something often lies overlooked, and that is agrobiodiversity.
My name is Oluwaferanmi, and I work with slow food (Nigeria) as a programmes and project manager. Today I'm going to be talking about the nexus between diets and youths. But before I talk about the impact of diets on youth empowerment, I want to talk about agrobiodiversity. Agrobiodiversity has to do with the variety of crops, fruits and vegetables that make up our diet. For young adults and youth, a diverse diet and rich in essential nutrients, not just macro and micronutrients, is essential for a healthy lifestyle and reduces a greater risk of chronic diseases.
But the problem of the diet of today is that it is limited. There are limited food options in the market, and traditional food choices, like vegetables and indigenous food crops (for example, Bambara groundnut), are missing from the diet. Now the solution is not just more staple food crops, but agrobiodiversity in diet.
There is a need for youth empowerment for agrobiodiversity. From establishing school gardens to creating digital platforms to encourage the adoption of a healthy and bio diverse diet for youth.
What we do at slow food Nigeria is that we are advocate for good, clean and fair food through silver programmes and thematic networks like the Ark of taste, the slow food recipe for change and Project Green futures. What we seek to adopt is that we want to influence more youths to influence a change in their diets.
We have the opinion that agrobiodiversity is rooted in our past, fixed in our present, and is our future, empowering youth in agriculture. Advocating for agrobiodiversity not only nourishes our bodies and improves our health, but it's also supportive of a good ecosystem and a better generation. It is important that we conserve indigenous knowledge, advocating for agricultural biodiversity and pass it down to the next generation.
Presentation byMichael Waiyaki, Founder & CEO Miti Alliance Ltd
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