Nestlé and UNESCO have unveiled a global initiative to tap the world’s next generation to make food production more sustainable.
One hundred teams of young social impact innovators will receive grants to develop relevant skills and solutions that enhance the resilience and sustainability of food systems with a focus on regenerative agricultural practices, climate change mitigation and packaging sustainability innovations, a statement said.
The objective will be to help 500,000 people directly or indirectly. Entries are open to youth from across the world including the Middle East and North Africa.
Building on the success of a pilot launched in Latin America in 2023, which engaged 20 young leaders and benefitted 130,000 community members, Youth Impact: Because You Matter aims to expand its impact globally and zooming in on the challenges facing food systems, a topic of high relevance to Nestlé as a food company.
One notable project from the pilot, Earth-IoT: Conectando el Campo, used digital tools to improve efficiency, profitability, and sustainability in Mexican rural areas. This initiative resulted in a 50% increase in farmers' income projections, a 40% reduction in fertilizer usage, and a 30% decrease in water and energy consumption, significantly lowering the carbon footprint throughout the agricultural cycle.
Young people today are struggling to find work because they are lacking the skills that employers are looking for. The agriculture and food sector has the highest rate of skills misalignments. At the same time, young people are showing less interest in farming, while agriculture is also evolving. The increasing need to produce food in a sustainable way while at the same time ensuring food security for a growing population means new skills are needed, said a statement.
This is why Nestlé and UNESCO are supporting youth aged 18-30 in developing and launching business ideas that aim to make the production, processing, transportation and consumption of food more resilient and sustainable. At the same time, they hope to strengthen economies and ensure higher rates of youth employment, it said.
"A highly qualified future workforce and a more resilient supply of raw materials are essential to Nestlé’s long-term success,” said Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestlé. “We're facing the challenge of feeding a growing population while addressing the cause and effect of climate change. These are critical challenges that require decisive actions. That’s why we are supporting young changemakers in solving them.”
David Moloto, Nestlé Human Resources Director Middle East and North Africa, added: "Nestlé is committed to supporting youth in developing future-ready skills. By equipping the next generation with the necessary resources, we are paving the way for innovative solutions that will not only address current challenges in food production but also ensure the resilience of our communities. I encourage young innovators from the region to apply and contribute to this impactful initiative.”
Youth Impact: Because You Matter will provide trainings and mentoring programmes to the grantees that are tailored to their needs and priorities. Those trainings will be developed in part by Nestlé's Youth Entrepreneurship Platform (YEP), which will also serve as the central hub through the six-month capability-building programme.
The programme aligns with Nestlé's broader Nestlé needs YOUth initiative, which has helped 10 million young people access economic opportunities over the past decade. It also reinforces the company's long-term commitment to youth as part of its revamped strategy, which includes support for young people to develop future-ready skills by 2030, to foster the next generation of employees, agripreneurs and food entrepreneurs.
The call for applications are open! Interested applicants can learn more and apply through the platform: Youth Impact - Because You Matter | UNESCO x Nestlé. -TradeArabia News Service
