18/08/2026
The Pwani Youth in Agrifood Systems Dialogue shifted our mindset.
Instead of asking how we can attract into agriculture, we need to ask how we can better support those already working across our agrifood systems.
In Kilifi, young people shared their experiences across production, distribution, transportation, processing, and leadership within agrifood systems. They spoke honestly about what is holding them back, including access to land, finance, skills, and markets, but also shared the solutions they are already building and the opportunities they see.
One example is Samaki Cookies, an innovation by Francis Thoya. Made from fish, cassava flour, cashew nuts, groundnuts, coconut, milk and sugar, the product shows how young people can turn local resources into value-added products while contributing to better nutrition.
The dialogue also came at an important policy moment as Kenya reviews the Kenya Youth Agribusiness Strategy 2017β2021. As we develop its successor, we believe the strategy should go beyond agribusiness and embrace the broader concept of agri-food systems, recognizing young people as farmers, entrepreneurs, workers, processors, innovators, and leaders across the food system.
At WingFarm, we believe youth participation must lead somewhere, into policy, investment, and action.
A big thank you to all our partners and everyone who made the Pwani dialogue possible.
The voices from Pwani are now part of the wider national conversation as we move towards the Kenya Youth in Agrifood Systems Summit, 2β4 September 2026.
Young people are not waiting to be included in the future of food systems. They are already building it.
