Are you interested in shaping the change towards a world where everyone has access to healthy and sustainable food? Join Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems, and McGill University’s Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on May 6th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for a pan-Canadian, youth-led UN Food Systems Summit Dialogue.

Food Systems Dialogues offer a purposeful and organized forum for people to come together and discuss concrete actions to transform food systems. Dialogues are currently being held worldwide and are an official and key component of the upcoming United Nations Food Systems Summit. The ideas generated through this dialogue on May 6^th are designed to help shape Canadian perspectives and the UN’s agenda in the leadup to the Food Systems Summit.

We invite young minds to share their voice and perspective on how they can make an impact in the transition toward robust, equitable and sustainable food systems. The dialogue will gather emerging leaders from across Canada to discuss a range of topics including reducing barriers to entry in agriculture, sustainable food production, food insecurity, and the role of research in shaping food systems. Some of the questions to be answered might include:

• How can youth take leadership roles in transforming food systems?
• In what areas can emerging leaders make the greatest impact?
• How will it be possible to tell if these actions are successful?

Event Format

This dialogue will be held online, with participants “seated” at a virtual table. Following brief opening remarks in a plenary session, participants will break out into smaller discussion groups. A facilitator will be on hand to guide the discussion topics, and the event will end with each small group reporting back on the main ideas generated to the whole session.

Outcome

A report on the outcomes of the Dialogue, including recommendations proposed, will be circulated to event participants and the Food Systems Summit Dialogues team. The outcomes of the Summit Dialogues will be a valuable contribution to the different workstreams preparing for the United Nations Food Systems Summit.

Who Should Attend?

If you identify as a youth, you’re welcome to attend! You might be a student, recently joined the workforce, or a young leader.