Food : The Sacred Bond Between Humanity and Nature
Over the years, I have often noticed how our relationship with food has changed. Growing up in India, I saw food viewed not just as nourishment, but as something deeply connected to nature, community, and wellbeing. Meals were guided by local ingredients, seasons, and a strong culture of valuing resources and avoiding waste.
Today, food systems across the world face growing pressures from climate change, population growth, and changing lifestyles. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and shifting rainfall patterns are increasingly affecting food production and food security. At the same time, the way we produce, transport, consume, and waste food contributes significantly to environmental challenges. To me, this is one of the defining issues of our time, reminding us that the future of food, nutrition, and human health is inseparable from the future of our planet. In my work across various domains, I have come to see that climate change and food security are deeply interconnected. Food systems are responsible for a significant share of global emissions, yet they are also increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks and disruptions. According to the FAO's latest FAOSTAT analysis (2025)1agrifood systems generated approximately 16.5 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, accounting for about 32% of total human-caused emissions worldwide. Meanwhile, according to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 (SOFI 2024)2, jointly published by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO, approximately 733 million people faced hunger globally in 2023,
underscoring the growing vulnerability of food systems to climate, economic, and geopolitical shocks
The climate crisis is therefore not only an environmental challenge - it is a food challenge, a health challenge, and ultimately a human challenge.
Youth: The Missing Force in Food Systems Transformation
Through my work across climate, food systems, and youth engagement, I have come to believe that one thing is increasingly clear: young people are not simply the leaders of tomorrow, they are indispensable partners in building more sustainable, resilient, and nutritious food systems today.
India alone is home to one of the world's largest youth populations. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's Youth in India 2022 report3 India had an estimated 371 million people aged 15 to 29 years in 2021, accounting for 27.3% of the country's population, making it one of the largest youth populations in the world. This demographic represents not only a significant share of the population but also an immense reservoir of innovation, energy, and leadership.
What gives me hope is the growing engagement of young people in food, nutrition, sustainability, and climate conversations. Across the world, I see a generation that understands the connections between food, health, the environment, and social equity- and is increasingly motivated to build more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food systems for the future.
As the generation that will live with the consequences of today's decisions, they have a powerful incentive to create systems that are more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive.
From my perspective, young people contribute far beyond technology and innovation. Some of the most effective solutions emerge when they combine modern science with traditional food knowledge and local realities. This blend of innovation, sustainability, and community understanding will be essential for building healthier and more climate-resilient food systems.
Climate-Smart Food Choices Begin with Behaviour Change
When we talk about sustainable food systems, the conversation often centres on policies, technologies, and large-scale interventions. While these are essential, real transformation also begins with the choices we make every day. The food we buy, consume, and waste has a direct impact on our climate.
One of the most overlooked challenges is food waste. Every year, enormous quantities of food are lost or discarded, even as millions continue to face hunger. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), food loss and waste contribute 8 -10% of global
greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the significant climate impact of inefficiencies across our food systems4. Addressing this challenge requires more than awareness-it calls for a fundamental shift in behaviour.
This is where young people have the power to lead. Through their influence in schools, universities, communities, and digital spaces, they can inspire more sustainable habits and reshape the way food is valued. Choosing local and seasonal foods, reducing food waste, supporting sustainable farming, and embracing healthier diets may seem like small actions, but together they create lasting impact.
Young people are not just changing their own habits-they are influencing families, communities, and future generations. When climate-smart food choices become part of everyday life rather than occasional actions, they can transform consumption patterns, strengthen food systems, and accelerate climate action from the ground up.
Innovation Beyond Technology
One lesson I have learned from working with young innovators is that meaningful innovation does not always come from sophisticated technology. Often, it begins with a deep understanding of local challenges. Across the world, young people are developing practical solutions to reduce food waste, strengthen supply chains, support climate-smart agriculture, and improve access to nutritious foods. I witnessed this firsthand through initiatives such as the Eat Right Youth Hackathon - Uttarakhand 2026, organised by Nutrition Connect at GAIN and FDA (Uttarakhand) where youth proposed ideas that combined sustainability, nutrition, and affordability. One project that particularly impressed me explored plant-based cheese made from locally available legumes - an idea that addressed environmental sustainability, healthy diets, and affordability simultaneously.
Experiences like these remind me that young people are not waiting for change; they are already creating it through innovative, community-centered solutions.The real opportunity now is to ensure that promising ideas move beyond competitions and pilot projects. With the right mentorship, partnerships, financing, and support, youth-led innovations can evolve into scalable solutions that help shape healthier and more sustainable food systems worldwide.
Beyond Tokenism: Giving Youth a Real Seat at the Table
From my experience, one of the biggest challenges facing young people in the climate and food systems space is not a lack of ideas or commitment - it is the lack of meaningful opportunities to influence decisions. Around the world, youth voices are increasingly visible in conferences, campaigns, and public discussions on sustainability. Yet too often, their participation stops at consultation rather than collaboration. They are invited to share perspectives, but not always given a seat at the table when policies and programmes are shaped.
I believe this must change, particularly in areas such as food systems and climate action, where the consequences of today's decisions will be felt most strongly by younger generations. Encouragingly, several countries have begun institutionalising youth participation through mechanisms such as Youth Climate Councils. For example, Denmark's Youth Climate Council advises the government on climate policy, while the European Union's Youth Dialogue provides young people with a structured platform to influence policymaking. Similar approaches can help ensure that youth engagement is not symbolic but genuinely influential.
From my experience, meaningful participation requires far more than simply inviting young people into the room. It requires mentorship, capacity building, access to decision-making spaces, funding support, and, above all, trust. I have also come to realise that opportunities to engage in policy, innovation, and leadership are often concentrated among urban or institutionally connected youth. Meanwhile, rural, indigenous, and geographically underrepresented young people, despite being among those most directly affected by food systems and climate change, are too often seen only through the challenges they face rather than the solutions they have long been creating.
What continues to inspire me is that these young people are custodians of invaluable traditional knowledge, climate-resilient agricultural practices, and locally grounded innovations that have sustained communities for generations. Their lived experiences and deep understanding of local realities offer perspectives that are essential for building food systems that are not only sustainable but also equitable, resilient, and rooted in context. To me, meaningful youth engagement is not simply about increasing participation; it is about recognising young people from all backgrounds as equal partners in shaping policies, programmes, and innovations. If we truly believe young people are the leaders of tomorrow, then we must ensure that all young people- not just the most visible have the opportunity to lead today.
Why Platforms Like the Eat Right Youth Hackathon Matter
One of the most encouraging experiences I have had while engaging with young innovators was witnessing the energy and creativity displayed during the Eat Right Youth Hackathon - Uttarakhand 2026. The ideas presented went far beyond conventional approaches to nutrition, covering areas such as sustainable agriculture, food waste reduction, healthier food products, and technology-enabled solutions for food systems. What impressed me most was not just the quality of the innovations, but the passion with which young people approached complex challenges that affect communities worldwide. For me, the true value of initiatives like these lies in providing young people with a platform to contribute meaningfully to conversations about the future of food and nutrition.
Around the world, there are inspiring examples of youth-led ideas growing into impactful enterprises. A notable example is NotCo5, which began with a vision of using artificial intelligence to create more sustainable plant-based foods and has since evolved into a globally recognized food-tech company. It is a reminder that transformative solutions often begin as simple ideas backed by curiosity and purpose.
At the same time, I believe innovation should not end when a competition concludes. The most promising ideas need continued support through mentorship, incubation, funding, and opportunities for real-world implementation. If we are serious about building healthier and more sustainable food systems, we must create environments where young innovators can turn their ideas into scalable solutions that deliver lasting impact.
The Future Must Be Shaped by Youth
My optimism about the future of food systems comes from the young changemakers I have encountered firsthand. I have seen young entrepreneurs help smallholder farmers connect directly with consumers, improving livelihoods while making local food more accessible. These experiences have reinforced my belief that young people are not waiting for change- they are already driving it.
The future of food systems will not be shaped just by policy, technology, or individual action alone. Real transformation happens when these forces come together.Young people are central to this transformation, bringing fresh ideas, innovation, and a strong commitment to the future. The food systems of tomorrow will be shaped not just for them, but by them.
