The Power of People: A Spotlight on Youth-Led Initiatives for MENA’s Food Systems
Farming First
Helping identify and promote the ideas, projects and innovations making agriculture more sustainable around the world.
Food systems challenges are not unique to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, nor are the issues that young people face. But, as with every region, the actions needed to transform them are.?
While considering efforts to secure partial self-sufficiency, the MENA region faces food insecurity due to social and political factors, not just environmental. The power to transform the world’s food systems not only lies in governments, but also in people – and in particular– youth. Bringing people together to develop solutions to the problems in food systems is central to youth-led action.
With mobilisation from MENA leaders, youth can be better equipped with adequate financial resources and access to policymakers to face the challenges of food insecurity. International Youth Day is an opportunity to shine a spotlight not only on the key role that youth play in tackling food insecurity in the MENA region, but on the many initiatives that are already doing so worldwide.
Making global solutions work
Taking a ‘one size fits all’ approach – the idea of a singular answer to issues in the food system – would be flawed. Changing dietary patterns, for instance, is commonly offered as a solution. But is this also a solution for those suffering from hunger? Or those that cannot afford nutritious food? In the MENA region, especially, healthy food is unreachable for many.?
Instead, a better approach would involve an assessment of the specific needs and challenges of local communities. It also requires understanding the readiness of society to adopt new solutions according to their level of awareness, cultural acceptability and economic resources.
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National approaches often exclude local voices from discussions on food systems solutions, concentrating only on increasing food production rather than spurring behavioural shifts. The focus must move from only focusing on increasing global efficiency and production to making food more available and affordable locally. Interventions such as repurposing existing public support, reducing market price controls and repurposing fiscal policies for producers and consumers can address insecurity.?
All these emerging opportunities offer youth the ability to shape their futures. Whether at the policy level or on the ground, youth have demonstrated their ability to not only call out what is not working but also to act. Young people continue to demonstrate this and grow the movement to transform the way our global and local food systems work.
Harnessing the power of youth
By fostering decentralised actions that build the capacity of young people to be the changemakers themselves, the world’s food systems can become more efficient and sustainable. Youth empowerment and knowledge has sparked a global collaborative movement for food systems transformation. Among youth leaders, a collective force of sharing skills, influencing behaviour and changing public narratives has grown – and young people in the MENA region are leading the way.
Read the full piece on Farming First.
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7 个月Redwood Trees for Houses… and furniture you want to plant redwood trees for houses because termites don’t infest and it’s the strongest for castrophic weather. the English measurement of a 2 x 4 is the width of the redwood tree. plant, then, smoke rolled with tobacco and pot. then you knock it over with a tractor - cut off the roots. and send the base of the tree to a lumberyard. Redwood Farming is one of the easiest and financially successful farms. use instructions above for potting soil: ___ plant the redwood to a 2 x 4 english measurement ___ knock it over ___ cut the roots off ___ and send it to the lumberyard. it is the most sought over tree farm in the world so there’s unbelievable demand for redwood at 2 x 4 English measurement for houses and railroad tracks. picking fruit and vegetables by hand isn’t quaint. It’s indentured. It’s woofing farms. It’s dynasty stuff.
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7 个月japanese farming equipment to end day labour, indentured and woofing farms. Post COVID RESPONSE. Social Security at $10,000 a month and $3m everyone’s account for housing, etc. Open Federal Reserve Banks. use the japanese farming equip. for all crops, potting & top soil. DoD has a CD for farming all fruits and vegetables, all herbal medicine for the sensory and lumber. pot for potting and top soil. this is how to plant organic even when there are toxins in the air, soil and water. plant 10 rows in the following way: plant cotton to bloom till from root to bloom… have a glass of wine pot and tobacco plant cotton to bloom till from root to bloom have a glass of wine pot and tobacco plant tobacco to leaf till from root to leaf have a glass of wine pot and tobacco plant tobacco to leaf till from root to leaf have a glass of wine pot and tobacco plant sativa pot to leaf till from root to leaf have a glass of wine pot and tobacco plant sativa pot to leaf till from root to leafhave a glass of wine - smoke the pot and tobacco - just grown. roll tobacco and pot together and smoke. that’s pot for potting soil. test in a ten row garden or ten row acre. -see my next comment on Redwood Trees.
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7 个月https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/oology_the-taylor-family-of-taylors-farms-invested-activity-7221713696190783489-9HZ4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
Engagement Manager at World Benchmarking Alliance | Food systems | Climate & nature | Youth advocacy
7 个月Thanks for shedding light on youth-led initiatives and on the MENA! Happy to have supported this :)
Founder/ President Regen Innovation Inc.
7 个月Community engagement is essential, wherever that community may be. Thanks again Farming First for highlighting the need to provide real solutions for the communities actual needs. And who better to start with but the youth of those communities! I hope all of our efforts lead to traction to support the local small holder farmer, the time really is now. How can I be more effective? Please contact Regen Innovation and let us know how we can do better!