Engaging Youth in Food Systems

Jan 29, 2025 | News, Spotlight

Today’s youth are facing a range of challenges, from mental health issues to food insecurity to the prospect of worsening climate change. However, when given the right opportunities, young people can play an active role in finding meaningful solutions—both for themselves and their communities.

Through our work with the Food System Roundtable of Waterloo Region, we’ve seen how innovative programs like Youth in Food Systems (YFS) and Nurture are empowering young people to take on important roles in the local food system. These programs understand that a thriving local food system isn’t just about feeding people—it’s about fostering community, promoting well-being, respecting the land, and creating a sustainable future.

Supporting Community Engagement

Last year, OFN Canada teamed up with the Food System Roundtable of Waterloo Region to create an online resource aimed at increasing local food system engagement. Together, we launched WaterlooRegionFood.ca—a free digital directory that connects the community with local farms, markets, and food organizations. Our goal was to go beyond just listing food sources. We wanted to help residents of all ages and walks of life to actively participate in the region’s diverse food system, whether by exploring ways to grow food, accessing community food supports, or volunteering in other local initiatives. Part of our ongoing commitment to this project, and the mission behind it, is to continue highlighting these local food initiatives. You can read the full articles on Nurture and Youth in Food Systems at Waterlooregionfood.ca/blog.

Nurture: Youth-led Food Forest Gardens

Founded in 2022, Nurture focused on giving young people the opportunity to design and maintain school gardens. By 2024, the program had expanded to engage 70 youth across 15 schools, along with welcoming adult mentors and garden advisors.

As part of our community outreach efforts, OFN worked with documentary videographer Craig Conoley to produce video profiles of six businesses and programs, including Nurture. In a heartening show of community, when we shared Nurture’s video on social media, many local people jumped in with comments of support. Again and again, the feedback highlighted the program’s value, and people outside of Waterloo even expressed a wish for similar programs in their own communities!

While the impact of Nurture has been significant, funding challenges led to a pause in the program in October 2024. Fortunately, this is not the end. Nurture and Youth in Food Systems (YFS) are now working together to reimagine and relaunch this school-based programming in 2025.

Youth in Food Systems: Beyond School Gardens

Youth in Food Systems began in 2017 by focusing on school gardens, giving students the opportunity to learn about food production in a practical way. Since then, YFS has helped create 47 school gardens across Waterloo Region and collaborated with the Nurture team to implement their school garden program. Beyond that, YFS has expanded to offer a range of initiatives that help young people learn about food systems, build skills, and explore careers in agriculture and food. These initiatives include their Youth Food Market, Food Leader Interview Series, food media creation, and a 2025 pilot project focused on seed saving and sharing.

Since April 2021, over 415 youth aged 14-19 have participated in YFS initiatives, contributing more than 3,800 hours of community service!

Through all of these programs, YFS helps foster a sense of community, belonging, and empowerment among young people. By providing opportunities for youth to take on leadership roles in food systems, YFS supports their growth into the next generation of innovators and advocates for sustainable food practices.

A Future Built on Youth Leadership

The ultimate goal of YFS is to help young people see themselves as future leaders in creating a just and sustainable food system, prioritizing a youth-driven approach that gives participants a voice in decision-making and supports their development in a positive and inclusive environment.

As Rayna Almas from Youth in Food Systems says: “The youth of today – these 14, 15, 16 year olds who are just beginning to discover their interests and motivations – will be the people at the forefront of building economically and environmentally sustainable food systems in the coming decades. It will take innovation, passion, skills, and leadership from the upcoming generations to achieve what we all need and deserve: just food systems.”

By providing young people with the tools to engage meaningfully in food systems, YFS, Nurture, and other community-based initiatives have the power to cultivate a more sustainable future—one where youth are empowered to lead the way.

If you’re in Waterloo Region, visit YFS’s website to find out how you can get involved.