A groundbreaking report from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has shed new light on the pivotal role young people can play in transforming agricultural systems worldwide.
By Maile Matsimela
The comprehensive study , titled “The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems,” examines how 1.3 billion young people aged 15 to 24 globally can serve as catalysts for agricultural transformation. For South Africa, where agriculture remains a cornerstone of rural livelihoods and food security, these findings present both significant opportunities and pressing challenges.
The report reveals nearly 85% of the world’s youth live in low- and lower-middle-income countries, a category that includes South Africa, where agrifood systems are fundamental to economic survival. The report says enhancing youth participation in these systems could contribute a trillion dollars to the global economy, suggesting substantial potential for South African agriculture if young people can be successfully integrated into farming enterprises.
South Africa’s agricultural sector faces a unique demographic challenge that mirrors global trends highlighted in the FAO report. With an ageing farming population and increasing urbanisation drawing young people away from rural areas, the country desperately needs to attract and retain youth in agriculture. The report’s findings suggest that 44% of working youth globally depend on agrifood systems for employment, compared to 38% of working adults, indicating agriculture’s crucial role as an employer of young people.
South Africa Mirrors Global Youth Employment Crisis
However, the situation is not without concern. The report says that food insecurity amongst youth has risen dramatically from 16.7% to 24.4% between 2014-16 and 2021-23, with young people in Africa particularly affected. This trend resonates strongly with South Africa’s ongoing food security challenges, where youth unemployment rates remain stubbornly high and access to nutritious food continues to be a significant concern for many young South Africans.
“The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems report provides a timely and evidence-based assessment of how decent jobs and food security for youth can be achieved through agrifood systems transformation, and how empowered youth can act as catalysts for broader agrifood systems transformation,” notes QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General, in his foreword to the report.
The research reveals a sobering statistic that over 20% of youth are not in employment, education, or training, with young women twice as likely to fall into this category. For South Africa, which already grapples with youth unemployment rates exceeding 60 per cent, this global trend underscores the urgent need for agricultural initiatives that can provide meaningful employment opportunities for young people.
The report suggests that eliminating youth unemployment and providing employment opportunities for youth aged 20 to 24 who are not in employment, education, or training could boost global gross domestic product by 1.4 per cent, equivalent to $1.5 trillion in additional value-added activity.
Trillion-Dollar Opportunity In Agricultural Transformation
Remarkably, about 45% of that increase would stem from agrifood systems, highlighting agriculture’s potential as an engine for youth employment.
The report further advocates interventions that enhance young people’s voice and agency, improve access to training and resources, and boost productivity both on and off the farm. These recommendations align closely with South Africa’s need to modernise its agricultural sector whilst creating opportunities for young people who have traditionally been excluded from farming enterprises.
It provides crucial demographic insights that South African policymakers should consider. Whilst 54% of global youth live in urban areas, rural youth account for only 5% of the population in industrial agrifood systems, signalling potential labour shortages if agricultural careers are not made more attractive. This trend is particularly relevant for South Africa, where many young people continue to migrate from rural areas to cities in search of employment opportunities.
Climate change presents another significant challenge identified in the report, with an estimated 395 million rural youth living in locations expected to experience declines in agricultural productivity, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa, with its vulnerability to climate extremes including droughts and flooding, must consider how to support young farmers in adapting to these changing conditions whilst building resilient agricultural systems.
Climate Change Threatens Rural Youth Livelihoods
The report’s emphasis on social protection programmes is particularly relevant for South Africa, given young people’s limited access to traditional financing. Many young South Africans who might be interested in pursuing farming careers face significant barriers in accessing land, credit, and technical support. The FAO’s recommendations for enhanced social protection could inform South African policies aimed at supporting youth entry into agriculture.
Perhaps most significantly for South Africa, the report highlights that many rural youth reside in areas with high agricultural productivity potential, presenting significant investment opportunities in market access and infrastructure. This finding suggests that strategic investments in rural infrastructure and market development could unlock the agricultural potential of South Africa’s youth whilst contributing to broader economic development goals.
Strategic Investments Could Unlock Youth Potential
The FAO report ultimately positions youth as the next generation of producers, processors, service providers, and consumers who will confront the enormous challenges facing global food systems. For South Africa, embracing this vision means recognising that young people are not merely beneficiaries of agricultural development programmes but active agents of transformation who can drive innovation, sustainability, and growth in the country’s farming sector.
As South Africa continues to grapple with the triple challenge of poverty, inequality, and unemployment, the agricultural sector’s potential to absorb youth whilst contributing to food security and economic growth cannot be overlooked. The FAO report provides a compelling case for increased investment in youth-focused agricultural programmes that could transform both individual lives and the broader agricultural landscape across the country.
