Growing the Food Future: Youth, Innovation and Indigenous Food Systems

6 August 2026 15:00 Growing the Food Future: Youth, Innovation and Indigenous Food Systems

Co-organizers: The Food Bridge vzw, CFF Agroschooling Initiative, Ayonna , Global Forum on Agricultural Innovation and Research- GFAIR

This side event at the World Social Forum (WSF) 2026 (Cotonou, Benin), organized by the Collective Action on Forgotten Foods (CAFF), places young people at the centre of the solution.  

Through inspiring examples, dialogue and collective reflection, participants will explore practical pathways for empowering the next generation to conserve, add value to, commercialize and promote forgotten foods while creating decent jobs, strengthening local economies and advancing food sovereignty.

The workshop aims to launch a growing movement of young entrepreneurs and advocates , who will shape the future of Africa's indigenous food systems. By investing in leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation and partnerships today, the initiative seeks to cultivate a generation capable of transforming forgotten foods into engines of nutrition, biodiversity conservation, economic opportunity and resilient food systems across Africa.

Sessions:

1. The Future of Forgotten Foods: Why Young People Matter - Exploring the opportunities presented by indigenous foods for employment, nutrition, biodiversity and climate resilience.
2. Becoming a Forgotten Foods Entrepreneur - Developing sustainable enterprises from indigenous crops.
3. Innovation for Indigenous Food Businesses - Creating new products, improving processing and increasing competitiveness.
4. Branding Africa's Heritage Foods - Marketing, storytelling and changing consumer perceptions.
5. Research Meets Enterprise - Building partnerships between universities, researchers and entrepreneurs.
6. Financing Young Entrepreneurs - Grants, investment, crowdfunding and business support opportunities.
7. Diaspora Markets and Global Opportunities - Understanding export markets and lessons from CAFF's diaspora market studies.
8. Leadership for Collective Action - Building networks, partnerships and movements that create lasting change.