Event Description

Soil serves as the foundation for food production, water filtration, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and overall ecosystem resilience. Yet, youth-led soil health interventions for climate mitigation have been overlooked. Youth comprise 36.7% of Zambia's population, 69% of whom are involved in agri-food systems through primary production, agri processing, trading and retailing. This disengagement of the young in soil health interventions leaves youth in the Agri-food systems space vulnerable to further climate-related shocks. It is crucial to engage the youth in order to catalyze action towards safeguarding one of our most precious natural resources - our soils. Soil health and youth engagement must be considered as part of the broader climate mitigation and adaptation agenda. The event will focus on how youth can be better engaged at multiple scales of soil health interventions to accelerate climate resilience and soil restoration.

Objectives

• Convene a diverse group of young leaders to foster a holistic approach to youth-led soil health interventions for climate resilience.

• Highlight a young farmer’s perspective on soil health and workable on-the-ground solutions

• Explore diverse opportunities available for youth in the soil health sector

• Foster youth engagement to elevate soil health interventions for climate resilience in national dialogues.