Upcoming and Past Events
Grand Finals of the Food System Innovation Challenge at Wageningen University and Research
Join us to cheer on Vietnam's representatives at the Grand Finals of the Food Systems Innovations Challenge!
Winners of the Changemaker Challenge from Vietnam, Team EcoShrimp and Team EarthFeast are heading to Wageningen, the Netherlands, to compete on the world stage.
Team EcoShrimp has developed a nature-based, multi-species pond system that transforms underutilized shrimp ponds to boost both environmental resilience and farm productivity. Meanwhile, Team EarthFeast is creating an app to directly connect organic shrimp farmers with customers, improving market access and product traceability. Their long-term vision is to create a resilient, nature-based shrimp-rice farming model through a combination of organic production, digital innovation, and community empowerment.
Witness their innovative solutions firsthand as they compete at the global finals!
Event Details
Date: September 30th, 2025
Location: Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
Attendance: You can join in person or watch the livestream.
The livestream of both plenary sessions (9:45-12:45 and 14:00-15:30) will be available at https://wur.yuja.com/ in a tab called EVENTS. Make sure you are logged out, click on the tab EVENTS, and click on the recording you would like to watch. Note that livestreams will only appear in the tab once the streaming session has begun. Before and after a streamed session the livestream will not appear in the tab.
Stay tuned for more information on how to register and access the livestream link, can be found HERE.
Sustainable Aquaculture in the Mekong Delta Business Event
Join us at the Sustainable Aquculture in the Mekong Delta Business Event!
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Dates: November 11-13, 2025
In a time when the Mekong Delta's aquaculture industry faces challenges from climate change to market demands, EY4F is proud to announce our participation in the Sustainable Aquaculture in the Mekong Delta Business Event.
The core mission of EY4F is to empower and inspire the next generation to become leaders in the food industry. At this event, we will emphasize the critical importance of youth in driving technological innovation, enhancing the value chain and eveloping human capital. This event is a key opportunity for us to connect with partners, experts, and like-minded young people.
We look forward to seeing you there!
College Tour on Careers in Aquaculture
Save the Date: College Tour on Careers in Aquaculture
Date: November 14, 2025
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Join us for an exciting college tour focused on careers in the dynamic field of aquaculture!
This is your chance to explore the diverse opportunities available in this rapidly growing industry, from sustainable farming to innovative research and technology. We'll be on hand to connect with students and share insights on how you can build a successful and impactful career in aquaculture.
Innovation Mission Vietnam: Salinisation in Horticulture in the Mekong Delta
Save the date for the Innovation Mission Vietnam: salinisation in horticulture in the Mekong Delta.
Dates: To be determined (as of late 2025)
One Day As A Farmer
🌾👩🌾 Ever wondered what it’s like to live a day as a farmer?
On September 11th, team Earthfeast, winner of the EY4F Changemaker Challenge, and Agriterra are hosting “One Day as a Farmer” – a hands-on journey into rice-shrimp farming life 🦐🌱
This special event is part of EarthFeast’s preparation for the Food Systems Innovation Challenge Grand Finals in Wageningen this September. The event brings together potential buyers, local farmers, and youth to connect with the roots of sustainable food production – while piloting an eco-tourism model in Long Hoa – Hoa Minh commune.
Highlights of a one-day journey:
🚲 Welcome from the fertile land: Ride through peaceful village paths and listen to stories about the unique “2-in-1” rice–shrimp model – a smart way local people live with climate change.
🌱 Hands-on farming: Plant young rice seedlings and pick fresh countryside vegetables right by the fields.
🦐 Catch shrimp & fish like a farmer: Step into the pond and enjoy the fun of catching shrimp and fish – just like the locals do!
🍲 Farm-to-table lunch: Taste a homemade meal at a local family’s house, with fresh ingredients straight from the garden and rice fields.
🎋 Cook a local specialty – Bánh Ít: Learn to wrap and make this traditional sticky rice cake with local flavors.
🌿 Plant a green memory: Join in planting trees or making seed pots from nipa palm leaves – a small gift back to the land.
💌 Message to Long Hòa: Before you leave, share your thoughts and memories in the “Memory Box” – a special way to keep your journey alive.
Join a journey full of fun, relaxation, and a true touch of the Southern countryside where nature and people live in harmony!
2025 EU-Vietnam Youth Dialogue
In Hanoi, on the occasion of the International Youth Day, the EU Delegation is pleased to attend the ‘Youth Dialogue with the EU’ event, organised by the Vietnam Youth Advisory Board.
With the participation of EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier, representatives of EU Member States (MS) and of prominent youth initiatives supported by the EU and EU MSs, the event aims to bring about lively exchanges on digital transition, green transition, education, public diplomacy, etc., opening up new potentials for EU-Vietnam cooperation.
Our Empower Youth4Food representatives will be on-site to share insights about exciting opportunities in the agri-food sector. Don’t miss the chance to connect with them!
Company Visit | Green Beli Farm
Young Sprouts, Big Dreams
🌱 A One-Day Farmer Experience
Have you ever dreamed of escaping the city to connect with the earth and plant seeds of hope?
Empower Youth 4Food, in collaboration with ENVI Club and Green Beli Farm, proudly launches “Young Sprouts, Big Dreams”—a meaningful day for youth in Gia Lai to grow, dream, and dig deep into sustainable agriculture.
📅 Date: July 5, 2025
📍 Location: Green Beli Farm, Gia Lai
Join us to plant, learn, and be inspired—led by Trần Thái Bình, co-founder of Green Beli.
Read more here.
Webinar | Youth-Led Initiatives: Tackling Environmental Challenges in Agri-Food Systems
Join us on the 10th of June for an exciting webinar in celebration of World Environment Day! We're shining a spotlight on youth-led solutions that are tackling today’s most pressing environmental challenges. From climate change to sustainable agriculture: young innovators are leading the way.
This session will empower you with practical strategies, inspiring stories, and opportunities to collaborate for a sustainable future. Don’t miss out on learning how you can make an impact, so register now!
Confirmed speakers:
Nguyen Thi Kim Anh: Team leader of EarthFeast, winner of the Changemaker Challenge
Nguyen Hong Minh: Team leader of EcoShrimp, winner of the Changemaker Challenge
Nguyen Huu Lam: Sales Executive at Vietnam Food Joint Stock Company
Thái Bình: Co-founder and Farm Operation Manager at Green Beli Farm
Anh Nông Mê Nói: Founder of Xanh Vietnam
Date and Time: 10 June 2025 | 19:00 – 20:30 (GMT+7)
Venue: Microsoft Webinar (Link will follow upon registration)
Registration link: bit.ly/ey4f-1006
Hackathon for Nature Based Solutions in Food Systems
The Changemaker Challenge on April 11 & 12, 2025 is a key initiative of the Empower Youth4Food campaign, organized by Nuffic Southeast Asia in collaboration with We Are Changemakers.
In addition to the two-day online hackathon, participants can access exclusive skill-building sessions. Winners will receive seed funding to develop their innovations further with the opportunity to join the WUR Food Systems Challenge and the We Are Changemakers Global Incubator, providing mentorship and networking opportunities.
Open to students and alumni, this hackathon is designed for those passionate about exploring innovative, nature-based solutions to shape the future of Vietnam’s food system.
Sign up with your team before March 5!
Read more about this event here.
Company Visit | ShrimpVet Vietnam
At the beginning of January 2025, Empower Youth4Food is excited to organize a company visit to ShrimpVet in Bình Duong, Vietnam. ShrimpVet is a Dutch-founded aquaculture company specializing in innovative and sustainable solutions for shrimp farming. ShrimpVet is a leading aquaculture company, focusing on sustainable shrimp farming practices and innovative solutions to support the industry. Their work spans research and development, disease diagnostics, shrimp breeding, and farm management. ShrimpVet is known for its cutting-edge technology and commitment to promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture practices.
This visit aims to inform and inspire students and young professionals about the diverse career opportunities within the aquaculture sector. Participants will gain invaluable insights into a practical working environment and experience firsthand the innovative sustainability efforts implemented at ShrimpVet.
The visit will take place on the 27th of February and you can secure your spot now by registering now if you're interested! We will keep you updated with the latest information as it becomes available. Join us for an experience that will spark your passion and curiosity about the thriving aquaculture industry!
For a behind-the-scenes look at ShrimpVet, watch this video featuring Hoang Nhu Phoc!
EU-ASEAN Green Diplomacy Week 2024 in Vietnam
In response to the EU-ASEAN Green Diplomacy Week 2024 in Vietnam, Vietnam Youth Advisory Board of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, in collaboration with other partners, organizes the EU-ASEAN Green Diplomacy Week 2024.
With the theme “Towards a Greener Youth Force,” the event offers comprehensive insights into career development potentials and opportunities within the green economy, expert discussions on essential green skills and green jobs across the public, development, technical, and private sectors, and valuable networking opportunities with young talents, pioneering clubs, organizations, and enterprises involved in green development.
⏰ Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
📍 Format & Location: Hybrid online livestream & offline in Hanoi, Vietnam
⚡ Registration link: https://s.net.vn/E66H
🗓️ Deadline for registration: December 06th, 2024, 14:00 (GMT+7)
🌍 Event Introduction: https://s.net.vn/TlH5
Also, our Empower Youth4Food Ambassadors will be on-site to share insights about exciting opportunities in the agri-food sector. Don’t miss the chance to connect with them!
Become an Impact Partner for the Changemaker Challenge!
The Changemaker Challenge is back! The challenge strives to cultivate youth engagement and entrepreneurship by actively involving young individuals in these pathways and other national efforts concerning socially and environmentally sustainable food systems. The students in the challenge are provided with connections to influential stakeholders, mentorship from NL alumni, access to high-level events, and (knowledge) support from universities to work on real-life business cases from agri-food companies. Through the Changemaker Challenge for Nature Based Solutions in Food Systems students will not only gain knowledge but also valuable hands-on experiences. The challenge facilitates meaningful connections between students, alumni, and industry partners working across interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary fields. After the challenge two winning teams can be selected for the 2025 Food Systems Innovation Challenge – Nature-based Solutions edition jointly organised by Wageningen University and Netherlands Food Partnership.
Currently, we are looking for Impact Partners in the area of horticulture and aquaculture to support the challenge.
Read more here!
Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE)
On October 21, during the Green Economy Forum & Exhibition, an important meeting took place among Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Mr. Kees van Baar, Dutch Ambassador in Vietnam, and Mr. Marchel Germann, Director of Sustainable Economic Development at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Both leaders celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership Arrangement (SPA) between Vietnam and the Netherlands, focusing on sustainable agriculture and food security. Their discussions highlighted the impactful cooperation between our two countries on various topics, including the EmpowerYouth4Food campaign, EUDR compliance, and future collaborations in the MekongDelta.
Together, we can create a more sustainable future! 🌱🤝 Read more here.
NFP World Food Day
We are thrilled to announce the winners of the EY4F Video Competition on World Food Day!, October 16th .The application phase has officially closed, and our jury is now reviewing the fantastic submissions we've received.
If you're in the Netherlands, join us for the World Food Day event hosted by our partner, Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP), where EY4F will have a special feature. Be among the first to watch the top 3 winning videos live and discover the inspiring stories behind them. You’ll also get the chance to meet our passionate Youth Ambassadors!
The NFP event will dive into engaging discussions about transforming food systems in today’s changing world. Don’t miss out—registrations are still open!
A huge thank you to NFP for including us in this important event!
Workshop | Short Video and Editing Skills
Your chance to hone your video creation and editing skills! As you might know, Empower Youth4Food is hosting a video competition and is still receiving applications until 20th September 2024 (read more about the competition here: www.bit.ly/ey4f-vc).
Do you want to join the competition but are you still not sure how to create your video or make it visually appealing to grab the audience's attention? We’ve got you covered! Join our exciting free online workshop with the experts from Dear Our Community, a partner of the Empower Youth4Food Campaign! Learn from their experience in creating engaging, multi-channel content (videos, podcasts, blogs) focused on social impact and sustainability.
Don't miss out on this opportunity! Register now for the workshop and take your video to the next level.
🗓️ When: Friday, 13 September 2024
⏰ Time: 3.30PM - 5PM (GMT+7)
💻 Where: Online via Google Meet
Register beforehand: https://bit.ly/videoworkshopEY4FxDOC (registration is free of charge)!
Video Competition | Harvesting Tomorrow: Youth in Agriculture
Join the Empower Youth 4 Food Video Competition and bring your innovative ideas to the world stage! This exciting competition invites you to showcase your vision for the future of sustainable agriculture in Vietnam.
Create a captivating video (no longer than 3 minutes) highlighting groundbreaking practices and the pivotal role youth play in building a greener, more resilient agricultural sector. Share your video on Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or Facebook and use the hashtag #EmpowerYouth4Food.
The videos will be reviewed by a distinguished panel, including:
Nguyen Do Anh Tuan – Director General, International Cooperation Department, Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ingrid Korving – Agricultural Counsellor, Dutch Embassy in Vietnam
Lode Verdonk – Co-owner of TipTopp Aquaculture
Truong Ba Tung – NL Alumnus & EY4F Youth Ambassador
Minh Anh Tran Ng – Marketing Executive, RYNAN Technologies Vietnam
Let’s highlight the role of youth in shaping a greener, more resilient agricultural sector in Vietnam!
🔗 Click here to read more.
Company Visit | De Heus Vietnam
Join us on 25 June 2024, for an enlightening visit to the De Heus Aquaculture Research & Development Centre and Feed Mill in Vinh Long province. This event aims to inform and inspire students and young professionals about the diverse career possibilities within the agri/aquaculture sector. Students and young professionals will gain invaluable exposure to a practical working environment, witnessing firsthand the innovative sustainability efforts implemented at De Heus' production facilities. This visit not only showcases the cutting-edge work of De Heus but also fosters connections between the company and talented Vietnamese students and young professionals, paving the way for future opportunities in this dynamic field.
We look forward to welcoming you to an experience that promises to ignite passion and curiosity about the agri/aquaculture industry!
Ready to join us? Register now by scanning the QR code or read more about it on our Instagram account @empoweryouth4food!
Orange Talk #12 | The Evolution of Food and Agriculture in Indonesia: A Journey through Past, Present and Future
Join us for an insightful webinar on “The Evolution of Food and Agriculture in Indonesia: A Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future” together with speakers from Rotasi Institute, Malang State University and Wageningen University!
This webinar aims to foster discussions about the past, present, and future of food security, examining historical lessons, current trends, and future innovations. The event highlights the importance of sustainable rural development and features NL alumni and stakeholders to identify collaboration opportunities and offer recommendations. Understanding the impact of climate change, socioeconomic factors, and evolving consumer needs is crucial for informed decision-making and sustainable global development.
Date: 8 June 2024
Time: 13.00-15.00 WIB / 8.00-10.00 CEST
Platform: Zoom (details will follow)
Don’t miss out and register now through: bit.ly/EvolutionFAWebinar!
Launch Empower Youth4Food - Vietnam Chapter!
On March 19, 2024, we are excited to announce the launch of the "Empower Youth 4 Food Campaign - Vietnam Chapter" in Hanoi, Vietnam! This campaign breathes new life into our mission and will span from 2024 to 2025. The launch will be held during the Netherlands Economic Mission to Vietnam, occurring amidst the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Vietnam. More than 140 business entrepreneurs will join this mission, led by prominent figures such as Mr. Mark Harbers (Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management), Ms. Christianne van der Wal (Minister of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality) and Ms. Ingrid Thijssen (President of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers).
During the EY4F launch, we are thrilled to introduce two enthousiastic ambassadors, Chao Thi Yen and Do Duong Van Thanh who will serve as the faces of the EY4F Campaign and Community!
About the Economic Mission to Vietnam: https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/web/vietnam/w/netherlands-economic-mission-to-vietnam-from-18-21-march-2024