* By Antonio Garza de Yta, Ph.D.
The structure of the Global Youth Forum, led by young people, is supported by the Global Youth Action Initiative, which has backed more than 500 innovative projects and involved nearly 30,000 young people from more than 180 countries, forming a network of 120,000 committed to foodtransformation.
The 2025 World Food Forum (WFF 2025), held in Rome, emphasized the importance of youth as agents of change in transtioning to sustainable agrifood systems. The opening ceremony of the Global Youth Forum, which took place at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), brought together thousands of young leaders and global stakeholders to promote action under the slogan “Hand in hand for better food and a better future.”
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu emphasized the importance of youth leadership, encouraging bold collaboration and innovation. Supported by the Global Youth Action Initiative, the youth-led forum has backed over 500 innovative projects and engaged nearly 30,000 young individuals from over 180 countries.
This initiative has established a network of over 120,000 individuals dedicated to food transformation. During the main week, youth participation was evident in over 300 events, including the Youth Assembly, the Youth Film Festival, and the School Assembly. These events fostered dialogue, creativity, and political advocacy. The launch of 38 new National Youth Chapters expanded the local impact. The message was clear: A better food future for all will only be achieved by working “hand in hand.” The WFF demonstrates that transformative change is already underway.
The events at the FAO, held as part of its 80th anniversary celebrations, evoked fond memories. They reminded me that many experienced aquaculture professionals today started out wanting to change the world — dreaming and passionately pursuing their ideals. Many experts began their careers by working pro bono, either in the Peace Corps or simply trying to be the agents of change that would save the future of humanity. I once wrote that the world belongs to the crazy. Perhaps now I should write that the world belongs to the young, who undoubtedly have a little craziness inside them.
But youth is all about attitude. I like to use Roy Palmer as an example. He’s the youngest person I know, even though he’s already in his seventies. I’m always surprised by Roy’s energy, positive attitude, joy, and completely selfless outlook on life. He is someone who came into this world to change it and make it a better place for future generations.
Nearly 20 years ago, Roy Palmer and I, along with other renowned experts, formed the Global Initiative for Life and Leadership through Seafood (GILLS). GILLS was intended to be a repository for scientific articles supporting the benefits of eating fish and seafood. It was also intended to combat the false and unsubstantiated opinions emerging at the time against aquaculture. The idea was necessary, and the organization survived for a few years. However, as we all know, good news doesn’t sell.
The movement gradually faded away due to a lack of funding. However, Roy never lost his enthusiasm and has led many interesting projects since then. The most recent is the Seafood Consumers Association (SCA), which we will undoubtedly discuss in a future column.
Today, I would like to discuss the importance of maintaining the magic that makes aquaculture special. Unfortunately, I have witnessed some universities transform from places where professors lived, ate, breathed, and sweated aquaculture into workplaces for people who don’t care that much about it. Many of us started out like Roy, and some of us still support him unconditionally.
However, little by little, life made us take aquaculture too seriously. Hopefully, this new generation will remember how important it is to maintain their passion and never forget that aquaculture can transform the future of humanity.
While it’s true that the future of humanity lies with the young, it’s equally true that youth lies within each of us.
* Antonio Garza de Yta is COO of Blue Aqua International-Gulf, Vice President of the International Center for Strategic Studies in Aquaculture (CIDEEA), President of Aquaculture Without Frontiers (AwF), Past President of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS), Former Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Tam- aulipas, Mexico, and Creator of the Certification for Aquaculture Professionals (CAP) Program with Auburn University.
