Empower Youth4Food (EY4F) held a webinar on the 10th of June 2025, in light of World Environment Day. The "Youth-led Initiatives: Tackling Environmental Challenges in Agri-Food Systems" webinar was a celebration of the very mission that drives Empower Youth4Food: to act as a catalyst connecting young innovators with the tools, platforms, and networks they need to revolutionize our agri-food systems. By building on the global momentum of World Environment Day, the webinar spotlighted the urgent need to address environmental challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, starting right here in our own communities.

The energy, creativity, and commitment shared by our speakers were no accident; they reflect the vibrant ecosystem we’re striving to nurture, especially in Vietnam, where young people are stepping up as powerful leaders of sustainability efforts.

Whether you’re a student, young professional, or simply passionate about creating a more sustainable future, we hope this recap will spark new ideas and inspire you to turn your own vision into impact. Here are the core principles that shaped our discussion and continue to guide our work at Empower Youth4Food:

Your Unique Story is the Seed of Innovation

The most powerful movements begin with a personal "why". From Nguyễn Ngọc Ánh (Founder of Xanh Vietnam Community)’s commitment to reconnect with her farming roots to Trần Thái Bình (Co-Founder of Green Beli Farm)’s experiences growing up on agricultural land, we saw firsthand how authentic purpose fuels unstoppable innovation. At Empower Youth4Food, we believe that building sustainable agri-food systems starts by empowering diverse young people to draw on their unique backgrounds and local realities.

Impact Happens at the Intersection

Sustainable solutions don't emerge in silos, they thrive where knowledge, community needs, and business come together. This was evident in the contributions of Nguyễn Hữu Lâm from Vietnam Food (VNF), who showcased how corporate expertise can support local initiatives, and the Ecoshrimp & EarthFeast teams, who blend technology with traditional practices. One of the core aims of this webinar was to foster exactly these kinds of cross-sectoral collaborations, bringing together local communities, businesses, and knowledge institutions to co-create lasting change.

Youth are the Engine of Today’s Agri-Food Revolution

This webinar reaffirmed a key truth: young people aren’t waiting for permission to lead: they’re already taking action. From students like Hồng Minh and Kim Anh developing environmental solutions, to entrepreneurs launching climate-resilient agricultural ventures in the Mekong Delta, we see youth driving the transformation of food systems every day. That’s why initiatives like the Empower Youth4Food Changemaker Challenge exist: to find, support, and amplify these young innovators as they tackle food security, resilience, and environmental sustainability.

From Individual Action to a Collective Ecosystem

Perhaps the most important takeaway was the power of unity. Tackling the intertwined crises of food security and environmental degradation requires more than individual brilliance; it demands a supportive ecosystem. This is the ultimate mission of Empower Youth4Food: to create spaces where youth-led solutions can flourish through mentorship, peer learning, and new partnerships. Whether it’s linking grassroots leaders like Ngọc Ánh with broader networks or opening doors to career pathways in Vietnam’s dynamic agri-food sector, we’re building a movement where every young person can contribute.

Your Journey Starts Here: Join the Empower Youth4Food Movement

This webinar offered just a glimpse of what’s possible when young people come together to shape a sustainable future. If you’re inspired to take action: whether through grassroots initiatives, innovative research, or new business ventures: now is the time.

• Follow Empower Youth4Food for updates on workshops, funding opportunities, and the next Changemaker Challenge.

• Connect with our community of mentors, peers, and partners eager to collaborate.

• Share your story with us. Tell us about the challenges you see and the solutions you envision.