A 14-student delegation from 黑料社, led by Professor Francesca Felici听of AUR鈥檚 MA in Food Studies, participated in the 听-听the flagship youth and innovation platform of the - held from 10 to 17 October at FAO Headquarters in Rome and online.
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In the months preceding the Forum, the delegation conceived and produced a short documentary examining how university communities understand and act on food loss and waste, the Forum鈥檚 central theme this year. To gather perspectives, students launched the independent instagram channel 听and circulated a community survey exploring attitudes to food, sustainability, and everyday consumption practices. A trailer for the film was showcased during WFF sessions; the full documentary is in final edit and will be released shortly.
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The delegation engaged both in person and virtually across WFF events, connecting classroom learning with global dialogue on sustainable food systems. The project underscores AUR鈥檚 experiential learning model - where students test ideas in real-world contexts - and reflects the university鈥檚 commitment to responsible citizenship.
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This initiative is part of the broader work of AUR鈥檚 Center for Food Studies, a hub that bridges scholarship, policy, and practice through courses, public programming, and partnerships in Rome鈥檚 dynamic food ecosystem.
Learn more about the Center鈥檚 mission and activities here: /center-food-studies
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WFF 2025: Youth at the forefront at 2025 World Food Forum in Rome.
The Global Youth Forum Opening set the tone for a week of youth-driven innovation, creativity and action under the theme 鈥溾��
鈥淭oday is about looking forward, to the future that youth are already shaping,鈥� said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu in his opening remarks. He praised young people鈥檚 determination, noting, 鈥淲hen I look at this generation, I see one that refuses to accept limits.鈥� Encouraging them to take the lead, he added, 鈥淚 ask you not just to participate, but to lead. Speak boldly. Listen generously. Challenge each other, and lift each other up.鈥�
Held under the theme 鈥淗and in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,鈥� this year鈥檚 Forum celebrated听 and emphasized听the importance of working together across generations, sectors and regions to drive progress towards more sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. The theme aligned听with FAO鈥檚 vision of the 鈥� leaving no one behind 鈥� the guiding framework for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Opening Ceremony featured remarks from Lesego Chombo, Minister for Youth and Gender Affairs, Botswana; Carlos Do Canto Monteiro, Minister for Youth and Sports, Cabo Verde; V铆ctor Julio Carvajal Porras, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica;; and Mahinur 脰zdemir G枚kta艧, Minister for Family and Social Services, T眉rkiye.
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Cover photograph:听漏FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto
Opening ceremony of the Global Youth Forum. The fifth edition of the World Food Forum (WFF), the largest annual gathering of agrifood systems stakeholders globally, runs at FAO headquarters in Rome from 10 to 17 October 2025. FAO Headquarters (Plenary Hall).