Agricultural heritage dialogue held in Rome
On Oct. 15, the Youth Action on Green Agri-Heritage dialogue took place in Rome, Italy. The event brought together more than 50 youth representatives, agricultural experts, and delegates from over 10 countries and regions. Together, they explored how young people can safeguard agricultural heritage through innovation.
Participants attend the Youth Action on Green Agri-Heritage dialogue in Rome, Oct. 15, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
Gao Anming, editor-in-chief of China International Communications Group (CICG), delivers remarks at the dialogue in Rome, Oct. 15, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
Gao Anming, editor-in-chief of China International Communications Group (CICG), noted that agricultural heritage systems reflect humanity's long-standing wisdom in living in harmony with nature and continue to inspire sustainable development.
He introduced the Youth Action on Green Agri-Heritage Initiative, which has engaged young representatives from more than 10 countries to develop 12 innovative proposals and produce six short documentaries. These achievements were presented at events in Jeju Island, South Korea, and Vientiane, Laos, drawing over 400 participants. The initiative's multilingual media and social campaigns have reached more than 200 million people worldwide.
Kazuki Kitaoka, director of the Office of Youth and Women at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, delivers remarks in Rome, Oct. 15, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
Kazuki Kitaoka, director of the Office of Youth and Women at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), pointed out that agricultural heritage systems embody the harmony between people and nature, carrying centuries of ecological wisdom and cultural identity that continue to support sustainable livelihoods today. He noted that this dialogue marked the first youth-focused side event jointly organized by the World Food Forum chapters of China, Laos, and Mongolia, creating an important opportunity to establish a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable model for youth empowerment.
Diao Qingyun, FAO representative in Mongolia, delivers remarks in Rome, Oct. 15, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
Diao Qingyun, FAO representative in Mongolia, said that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of both the U.N. and FAO. This dialogue revisited the extraordinary journey of human agricultural wisdom that has nourished civilizations across generations. Young pioneers from China, Laos, and Mongolia demonstrated how innovation and tradition can coexist and flourish together. She stressed the need to further empower young people so that they are not only beneficiaries of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agri-food systems, but also active drivers and contributors of transformative change.
The documentary series "Youth Action on Green Agri-Heritage: Global Cultural Symbiosis" premieres during the dialogue in Rome, Oct. 15, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
Chanthalath Pongmala, assistant FAO representative in Laos, delivers remarks in Rome, Oct. 15, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
Chanthalath Pongmala, assistant FAO representative in Laos, noted that protecting agricultural heritage plays an important role in strengthening rural economies and improving the livelihoods of farming communities. He pointed out that promoting agri-tourism and developing value-added agricultural products can help generate new sources of income and contribute to local economic growth and food security. The assistant representative also emphasized the need for stronger regional cooperation and greater research on climate-resilient crops to strengthen agri-food systems against climate change. He stressed that efforts to address climate change should align with the goals of sustainable development.
The event was jointly organized by the Office of Youth and Women of the FAO, the FAO representations in Laos and Mongolia, the World Food Forum (China), and CICG's subsidiary China Internet Information Center. It was supported by Tsinghua University and the UNDP SDG Innovation Lab (SPARK Lab) in Chengdu.