This study draws on a range of sources. Primarily, comprehensive desk research was conducted on the topic of youth participation in food systems. The desk research covered the following topics: the role of young people as “agents of change”, the rural-urban divide, the various influences shaping young people’s career choices and the broader outlook for food systems development.
Statistics on status and trends within food systems, including farm structure, demographics, labour market, young people and education, were gathered for all Nordic countries at multiple levels.
To provide a broader regional perspective, the study incorporated a Baltic viewpoint through participation in a workshop held in Cēsis, Latvia, in April 2024, as part of the final event of the “Entrepreneurship in Vidzeme” project. More than 20 participants from the Nordic and Baltic regions discussed the challenges faced by young people in engaging with food systems development.
Finally, two surveys were conducted, focusing on youth perceptions of careers in the food systems. The first pilot survey was conducted in September 2024 in Skive, Denmark during Green Innovation Week, where young people gathered to learn about career prospects in green and sustainable business environments. The self-administered digital online survey involved purposive non-probability sampling of young people attending the event through the respondents’ handheld devices or a laptop provided. A total of 106 respondents completed the survey.
The second, more overarching survey was conducted between January and April 2025 in all five Nordic countries. Two distinct contexts were chosen in each country: a rural area, where agriculture, forestry or fishery sectors play a significant role in the local economy and society, and an urban area, where these sectors are less prominent. In each urban and rural area, two schools were chosen – an upper secondary school and a further education/vocational school. Following the initial data collection, additional surveys were distributed to some schools to counterbalance any irregularities observed in the primary round of data gathering.
To support and validate the research – which encompassed desk research, statistics and surveys – a reference group was established. Given the contextual differences within the Nordic Region and to ensure diverse perspectives, representatives from all the Nordic countries were included. The group comprised 15 individuals, consisting of both young people and senior experts. The members were categorised into three groups: students, young practitioners/activists and experts and were recruited either through invitations to educational institutions within the food systems area or contacted directly based on recommendations. The group convened through three online meetings and one physical meeting held between May 2024 and May 2025.
The project was presented to and discussed with EK-FJLS (the senior official committee for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) at its meetings.
Finally, the findings and policy recommendations were presented to the Nordic Food Ministers in Koupio, with the participation of youth representatives from the reference group.