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Accelerating Youth for a Climate Smart World

Wednesday, 9 November at 16:00 – 17:00

FAO, CGIAR, Rockefeller Pavilion

Objectives

This session will help to:

• Create excitement for the future of youth in the agri-food sector

• Illuminate programs to further youth engagement

• Explore how to improve existing programs and create synergies between them

• Examine opportunities across the diversity of agriculture

Short description of the event

The private sector is a leader in advancing agricultural enterprise, science and engineering. It employs and funds some of the most exciting and innovative research in the field. The next generation of skilled agri-food leaders are needed to sustain this momentum and make the food system ever more sustainable, especially in face of climate change. A myriad of programs encourage young people the opportunity to train, be mentored and accelerated into leadership in the sector. Explore some of these programs and discuss how to improve them.

Names and affiliations of potential speakers:

Moderator: Robynne Anderson, Director General, International Agri-Food Network

Food Technology

o Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer, Pepsi Co

Dairy

o Caroline Emond, Director General, International Dairy Federation

Youth Accelerator

 o Rana el de Souky, Sustainability Manager, Nestle

Youth

o Chidiebele EJ Uzoagba, Centre Leader, Centre for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Studies at the African University of Science and Technology Abuja Nigeria

o Mitchell Zoratti, Canadian Cattle Association

o Omar Farhate, Past President International Association of Agricultural Students

Run of Show

The panel is asked to prepare your thoughts, but do not have a formal speech so we can make this as interactive as possible. You will be introduced in the order above and will be asked to describe programs you are working on to accelerate youth in a climate smart world. Your answers should be brief (3-5 minutes), so there can be follow up discussion and interaction. Highlight the purpose of the program(s), the outcomes, and the tie to SDGs.

The second round of questions will come back to each of you, though potentially not in the order you first take the floor. The second round of questions will look for similarities and potential efficiencies between the programs. Please be prepared for variations on these themes:

a) What are the biggest challenges you are facing in delivering these programs?

b) Are there ways you could use assistance to help recruit more young people into food and agriculture?

c) How do you incorporate climate smart programs into your work with youth?

d) Do you see any synergies between these programs? Are there ways today could inspire you to work together?

We may also take a question or two from the audience. If time allows, I will call for a 30 second wrap up from you each. Please think about a call to action and possibly a hashtag you would want to incorporate.

Organizer:

International Agri-Food Network

The International Agri-Food Network (IAFN) is a coalition of small, medium and large-scale business enterprises involved in agriculture, food security and nutrition. The membership includes farmers, input providers, cooperatives, processors, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), food companies, and more.

Contact: Robynne Anderson robynne@emergingag.com

BIOGRAPHIES

Caroline Emond, Director General, International Dairy Federation, Brussels
Caroline Emond was appointed Director General of the International Dairy Federation in February 2018. She is a lawyer, has been a diplomate and has 25 years’ experience in senior executive and public affairs roles in private, public and the not-for-profit sectors. Caroline is an inspiring and motivating leader. She is known for her capacity to influence and bring people together to deliver business objectives and changes. Caroline studied law at Université de Montréal and has been a member of the Barreau du Québec since 1994. She is a trained mediator. Caroline Emond hails from La Baie, in Quebec’s Saguenay region. She currently lives in Brussels.

Engr. Chidiebele E. J. Uzoagba
Centre Leader, Centre for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Studies at the African University of Science and Technology
Sustainability and Climate Change Thought Leader
EDGE (Green Building) Expert and Faculty at IFC/World Bank
Centre Leader, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Studies (C3AMS), African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja Nigeria.
Executive Director, Jecmeralds Engineering Ltd, Nigeria
Mechanical/Petroleum/Project Engineer

Omar Farhate is a Moroccan Plant Health scientist, holding an agricultural engineering degree.
He is a current double masters student  in Spain and France. In 2020 – 2021, he was the president of IAAS World where he pioneered the network’s involvement in the global climate change policy as well the food and agriculture policy. He currently leads the Food and Agriculture Youth Institute (FAYI) of IAAS World, aiming at involving young people in the food systems policy space and debate.

Jim Andrew, Executive Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer, PepsiCo
Jim Andrew is Executive Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer for PepsiCo. PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Mr. Andrew joined PepsiCo in 2016 and currently leads pep+, PepsiCo’s holistic transformation agenda with sustainability at the center, including the strategic framework, governance, and integrated plans and goals for all of PepsiCo. He also ensures that sustainability is woven into the operating plans of all Business Units. Prior to this role, he held a variety of operating and functional leadership roles in the company including global head of Strategy and leader of our Beyond the Bottle businesses. Previously, Mr. Andrew served as EVP and chief strategy and innovation officer for Royal Philips N.V based in Amsterdam where he played a central role in the transformation of Philips from a conglomerate to a focused and high-performing health tech company. He had leadership accountability for all elements of strategy and innovation, as well as sustainability and the company’s digital transformation. Mr. Andrew also served as the chief administrative officer of Sears Holdings Corporation. Mr. Andrew started his career at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), leaving as a senior partner after a distinguished 25-year career. At BCG, he established and led the firm’s Innovation practice for almost a decade, and was lead author of the highly-acclaimed book Payback: Reaping the Rewards of Innovation. He opened the firm’s offices in Mumbai India and Singapore. Mr. Andrew earned his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and his MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. Mr. Andrew is based in Purchase, N.Y.

Robynne Anderson

Robynne has extensive experience in the agriculture and food sector, working throughout the value chain – from basic inputs to farmers in the field to the grocery store shelf. She works internationally in the sector, including speaking at the United Nations on agriculture and food issues, and representing the International Agri-Food Network at the UN.Throughout her career she has worked with farm organisations like the Prairie Oat Growers Association, the National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi and the Himalayan Farmers Association, as well as global groups, to further the voice of agriculture in the food debate. She has also worked with Fortune 500 companies growing worldwide businesses to assist them with issues management and strategy decisions.

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