Policy recommendations

Education and training: timing matters – support education from childhood

• Introduction to food production from kindergarten onwards: It is crucial to introduce food-related skills at an early stage as youth alienation from the agri-food sector can partly be attributed to the late introduction of integral food systems education. Establishing it as a cultural norm is important, for example through activities such as farm visits, school gardens, food preparation in schools. In general, an overview of learning opportunities may help to evaluate what methods are effective and how to share them. Creating good experiences is key to fostering sustained interest later on!
• Informal learning and training can support these conditions: Informal education can be formalised throughout career learning, career management skills and career guidance. An improved overview of informal and sporadic education and training opportunities across the Nordic countries could facilitate the evaluation of their impact and enable them to be scaled up at both national and regional levels. 
• Digital upskilling in rural areas and integration of food systems into STEM curricula: The agri-food sector is experiencing a skills mismatch, particularly concerning technology and digital solutions. To bridge this gap, it is essential that digital technology upskilling initiatives are prioritised in rural areas. Simultaneously, educational programmes in urban areas should incorporate a food systems perspective into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curricula. A beneficial approach here could be to explore existing study programmes for a broader perspective on their contribution to food systems. Career counselling and guides are important channels for disseminating such knowledge to young people.

Innovation and entrepreneurship: the food system’s potential for innovation, research and development – focus on innovation and entrepreneurship

• Potential for innovation and entrepreneurship: The agri-food sector is often perceived as conservative, with relatively low consumer trust in new foods, which can overshadow its capacity for innovation. However, this also presents an opportunity to highlight the sector's potential for innovation, research and development, including digitalisation. Boosting knowledge about the opportunities for green innovation and food production could be valuable. This could involve investigating the untapped potential of existing structures – including in education – at multiple levels. In addition, actively engaging young peoples’ creativity and including various disciplines in innovation can help to harness this potential.
• Entrepreneurship in food production takes many different forms. Education and training should reflect this diversity and may encompass, for example, breeding programmes and genetic technology, food technology and innovative food processing, new business models/channels in “established” farms, digitalisation of value chains, generational renewal and knowledge about business acquisition.
• Intensified efforts in cities to attract young people: There is a need for stronger advocacy in urban areas to increase the visibility and perceived attractiveness of the sector among young people. This would encourage young people to link the agri-food sector with high-level innovations that they consider meaningful and to aspire to engage with the sector. The earlier EMBLA Nordic award serves as a good example of such an approach.

The relevance of food systems for preparedness and resilience: involving young people in strategy development

• A youth perspective of the agri-food sector’s role in emergency preparedness: The agriculture and food sector plays a vital role in building comprehensive resilience, especially when viewed through the lens of younger generations. Recognising the sector’s strategic importance opens up opportunities for synergies between investments in defence and security and the development of a robust agri-food system.
• Strengthening short, place-based value chains can enhance both resilience and local identity. To be effective, these strategies must actively include young people at all levels – local, regional and national – to ensure that their voices are not only heard but meaningfully represented.
• Fostering a sense of professional pride and purpose in the sector, particularly among young people, can promote long-term engagement and innovation.
• Continued focus on climate-smart solutions in the food sector: Many young people are passionate about tackling climate change and may perceive agriculture and fisheries negatively due to the environmental impact of these sectors. This interest can be channelled into innovation and development of shorter supply chains in conjunction with a focus on climate-smart agriculture and the CO2 emissions of various food products. It could prove beneficial to undertake a thorough review of national and regional nutritional guidelines, with geopolitical factors as a key consideration. The nutritional guidelines could place greater emphasis on local opportunities and biodiversity in order to support climate-smart alternatives alongside locally based, resilient production schemes.

Rural attractiveness: highlight opportunities for young people – including for women and food systems entrepreneurs – and promote effective coping strategies

• Challenge stereotypes and prejudices through mass media, social media and role models: The agri-food sector is subject to numerous stereotypes and misconceptions, often related to undervaluation of rural areas and the quality of life in these. While combating these prejudices and stereotypes is an ongoing endeavour, it is crucial to emphasise the positive role models who challenge such norms. “Rural attractiveness” is about more than job opportunities – it is about quality of life, freedom, space, access to nature, work-life balance, job opportunities for spouses etc.
• Mobilise young people through bootcamps and introduce them to opportunities: Another strategy involves mobilisation through bootcamps, where young people from both urban and rural areas can connect and exchange ideas, often with input from large industrial actors.
• Recognise the challenges faced by young people and identify effective strategies to address them: It is imperative to recognise the challenges confronting young individuals in rural environments. To tackle this issue, it is crucial to emphasise effective strategies that support young people in remaining within their communities and entering food systems employment. Such strategies include the establishment of rural youth communities and food systems mentorship groups that engage with the experiences and concerns of young people, rather than merely addressing  priorities of the industry.

• Established social norms can be challenged in the food sector: Food systems are a sector with potential for increased gender diversity. At present, they are shaped by long-standing social norms around inheritance, upbringing, job division and related aspects. Improvements could include better access to maternity leave and time off, a focus on insurance structures, school systems and work-life balance. One promising initiative that could serve as a model is the development of agri-bootcamps for women, such as those at ITU in Denmark.
• Young women show less interest in starting a business than men:invest in framework conditions to support female entrepreneurs: Investing in the development of rural areas to make them more attractive for female entrepreneurs can be an effective strategic approach in response to limited investments to date and lower interest among female students in establishing their own businesses. Financial support programmes for women seeking to become entrepreneurs is one possible avenue.

Welcoming migrants: invest in belonging – integrate and train the migrant labour force within the agri-food workforce

• Given the seasonal nature of employment in the agri-food sector and increasing reliance on migrant labour, enhanced integration of migrant labour – whether seasonal workers or migrants – within the agri-food workforce can serve as an effective strategy. Such a measure would foster a stronger sense of belonging among migrant workers, both within rural communities and the agri-food ecosystem more broadly.

• Invest in migrants' attachment to local areas: It is essential to ensure that regions are attractive not only as workplaces, but also as places to live for workers’ families. In this context, investments in improved working conditions for seasonal workers should be a priority.
• Invest in upskilling of migrants: Strengthening training and qualification programmes relevant to the agricultural sector is critical. One potential approach is to develop exchange programmes aimed specifically at agricultural students in other countries. More broadly, it is important to ensure possibilities for education and career advancement alongside employment. 
• Finally, a further area for development is the professionalisation of cross-cultural leadership among farmers.