The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marked its 80th anniversary in Rome with a vibrant Junior World Food Day celebration, blending food, sport, and global dialogue. More than 1,000 young students, joined by high-profile chefs, athletes, Indigenous leaders, and global influencers, transformed FAO’s Plenary Hall into a space of creativity and advocacy. The event spotlighted the role of youth in shaping a sustainable food future, reminding the world that small actions from every generation can make a big difference.
The highlight came when Italian celebrity chef Alessandro Borghese teamed up with Italy’s national rugby players and schoolchildren for a live cooking challenge. Global actress Monique Coleman added star power, while music, breakdance, and storytelling filled the day with energy. The celebration was not just entertainment but a call for action: giving children and young people a real voice in discussions on food security, nutrition, and climate resilience.
Food, Youth, and a Global Call for Action
Junior World Food Day emphasized collaboration between generations to tackle hunger and malnutrition. FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu stressed that today’s youth must be empowered to lead tomorrow’s solutions, framing them as central to ensuring everyone has access to healthy and diverse diets.
Key elements of the event included:
- Interactive Cooking Session: Chef Borghese challenged rugby players and kids to prepare meals on stage, showing that food can bridge cultures and communities.
- Global Role Models: FAO invited “Food Heroes” such as Indigenous leader Judy Kipkenda and chefs Victoire Gouloubi and Xin Ge Liu, who shared practical advice on reducing waste, embracing diverse diets, and protecting cultural food heritage.
- Youth-Led Creativity: From breakdancing by Studio 7 to a live performance of FAO’s anniversary song, young people showed how arts and culture can make food advocacy more engaging.
- Hands-On Learning: Students explored FAO’s new Food and Agriculture Museum and took part in contests and global education initiatives aimed at sparking curiosity about agriculture and sustainability.
This lively approach turned a policy-heavy space into a youth-driven movement, making complex issues like food waste reduction and healthy eating accessible to children.
Linking Junior World Food Day to the World Food Forum
The celebration is part of the wider World Food Forum (WFF), FAO’s annual week-long gathering that attracts heads of state, policymakers, and civil society. This year, notable participants included Pope Leo XIV, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, all underlining the political weight of the event.
The forum also hosted a Global Youth Forum, where thousands of changemakers debated sustainable farming, climate adaptation, and food justice. By combining youth energy with policymaking, FAO is creating a bridge between grassroots enthusiasm and international strategy.
What makes Junior World Food Day unique is its mix of entertainment and advocacy. Unlike traditional summits, it engages children in playful yet meaningful ways, ensuring they understand their role in fighting hunger. The format also resonates with educators, NGOs, and governments seeking to promote food literacy among the next generation.
Practical Insights for Building a Sustainable Food Future
To turn inspiration into action, FAO highlighted clear pathways for individuals, schools, and governments. Here are three critical areas of focus:
- Healthy Diets for All
- Schools should integrate balanced nutrition lessons into everyday education.
- Parents can encourage children to try diverse foods and cut down on processed options.
- Reducing Food Waste
- Simple household actions, like using leftovers creatively, can make a major impact.
- Youth-led campaigns in schools can normalize practices like composting and portion control.
- Empowering Future Farmers
- Governments must create incentives for young people to see agriculture as a viable career.
- Technology-driven farming projects, such as hydroponics and digital agriculture platforms, should be promoted at youth level.
By framing these ideas in accessible language, FAO ensures that young participants do not just learn about global hunger but actively shape the solutions.
Key Participants and Contributions
| Participant/Group | Contribution | Impact on Event |
|---|---|---|
| Chef Alessandro Borghese | Live cooking challenge with students and rugby players | Made food advocacy entertaining and accessible |
| Italy’s National Rugby Team | On-stage collaboration and interactive sports moments | Showed teamwork and energy in linking sport to nutrition |
| Monique Coleman (Actress) | Celebrity presence and youth inspiration | Brought global visibility to the event |
| Indigenous Leader Judy Kipkenda | Shared stories on food traditions and sustainability | Connected cultural heritage with modern solutions |
| Chefs Victoire Gouloubi & Xin Ge Liu | Nutrition tips and advocacy for food diversity | Highlighted global perspectives on healthy diets |
| Studio 7 (Dance Group) | Breakdance performance | Engaged youth with culture and movement |
| FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu | Policy message on youth leadership in food security | Linked FAO’s 80th anniversary to future challenges |
Beyond Celebration: Why Junior World Food Day Matters
Junior World Food Day is not just an annual event; it is a strategic move to include youth in long-term food system transformation. FAO’s new Food and Agriculture Museum, alongside global contests and school activities, ensures that the lessons go beyond one day of celebration.
The broader World Food Forum also reflects a systemic approach, combining high-level politics with grassroots participation. It creates a platform where governments commit to reducing hunger while young people provide innovative, practical ideas.
Looking forward, FAO’s challenge will be to maintain momentum. Encouraging ongoing youth-led initiatives, digital storytelling, and cross-cultural exchanges will be crucial in making these events more than symbolic gatherings. The key lies in turning creativity into policy impact.
Trending FAQ
Q1: What is Junior World Food Day?
Junior World Food Day is part of FAO’s World Food Forum. It is designed for young people to engage with issues of food security, nutrition, and sustainability through interactive and creative activities.
Q2: Why was the event significant this year?
This year marked FAO’s 80th anniversary, making the event a symbolic platform to emphasize youth leadership in shaping the next generation of food systems.
Q3: Who were the major guests at the 2025 event?
Celebrity chef Alessandro Borghese, global actress Monique Coleman, Indigenous leader Judy Kipkenda, and Italy’s national rugby team were among the notable figures.
Q4: What are the main takeaways for schools and families?
Encouraging healthy diets, reducing food waste, and supporting youth interest in agriculture are three practical steps that schools and families can take to align with FAO’s goals.
Q5: How does the event connect with global policy?
Junior World Food Day feeds into the World Food Forum, where heads of state, policymakers, and civil society leaders commit to global food security measures. The youth-driven activities ensure that policies reflect fresh, innovative perspectives.
