YPARD

FAO states that in the next 35 years the world’s population will increase from 7 billion to over 10 billion.[5] At the same time, agriculture is an ageing and undervalued profession for which there is a declining interest among young people.[6]

Young professionals face numerous challenges including making their voices heard and exerting influence in the field of AR4D. Lack of youth involvement in AR4D has negative implications for the sector, reducing the potential for innovation, use of new communication technologies, inclusivity and future sustainability.[7]

In response to this, in April 2005, at EFARD in Zurich, a small group of young scientists observed that an important policy debate was taking place, but with very little involvement of young scientists and decides to take action. Two months later in Rome was held a meeting between the group of young professionals and representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the GFAR, Biodiversity International and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

In December 2005, at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), in Marrakech, took place a roundtable with the topic: "How to Increase Young People's Involvement in Agricultural Research for Development (ARD)?" That was the seed that between March and June 2006, in Bern, gave the input for the meeting with Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) where the initial funding proposal was discussed and signed.

Between May and July 2006 in Wageningen and at the Leibniz University of Hannover was formulated the vision, the mission, the objectives, the governance structure and the short and long-term activities for the platform and preparations for the official launch of YPARD. At the triennial conference of the GFAR, in New Delhi, on 8 November 2006, the Young Professional’s Platform for Agricultural Research for Development is officially launched during a side event.

YPARD's goal is to enabled and empower young agricultural leaders shaping sustainable food systems.

YPARD seeks to ensure sustainably improved livelihoods worldwide through these key objectives:[8]

• To ensure long term sustainability of YPARD
• To be a key influencer in the strategic direction of youth engagement in sustainable food systems
• To enable young people in agriculture shape sustainable food systems
• To be an innovative and supportive global team

Two supporting objectives are securing diversified funding sources and ensuring strong management.

All of YPARD's decisions - on global, regional, country and local levels - are made with these objectives in mind. As reflected in the Content Driven Agenda 2014-2018.[9]

Underlying these objectives, YPARD believes that youth in agriculture must be empowered to lead their own development. With an ageing global agricultural system and increasing lack of interest among young people in pursuing agricultural-related careers across the globe, we face a problem of sustainability of the sector.[10] Therefore, «it is necessary to create the next generation of agricultural leaders, thinkers and entrepreneurs who will be able to address these critical development issues», YPARD states.[11]

YPARD is working in partnership to empower youth in agricultural development and is supported by the SDC. YPARD has contributed to the generation of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research's Program on Dryland Systems youth strategy 2014-2017. [12]

YPARD is hosted by institutions that work in the agricultural field:

• YPARD Global Coordination Unit is hosted by GFAR, Rome, Italy;
• YPARD Asia is hosted by CAAS, China;
• YPARD Africa is hosted by FARA, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, Ghana;

YPARD works in partnership with:

• ACTS - African Centre for Technology Studies, Nairobi, Kenya;
• APAARI - Asia- Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions, Bangkok, Thailand;
• Ardyis Project, Wageningen, Netherlands;
• CGIAR - Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
• CTA - Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural cooperation ACP – EU, Wageningen, Netherlands;
• e-agriculture, Rome, Italy;
• European Marketing Research Forum EMRC AgriBusiness Forum;
• FARM - The Forum for Agricultural Risk Management in Development;
• Farming First;
• GFRAS - Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services, Lindau, Switzerland;
• GYIN - Global Youth Innovation Network, Washington D.C., U.S.A.;
• ICT-KM;
• IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development, Rome, Italy;
• IAAS - International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences, Leuven, Belgium;
• LEAD International, London, United Kingdom;
• TVG - Terra Viva Grants
• YPLD - Young Professionals in Local Development, Iasi, Romania.

Conceived as a multi-stakeholder platform,[13] YPARD is a "movement" and does not intend to become a formalized institution.[14] In order to ensure accountability and continuity, as well as enable financial contributions, a small structure is nevertheless established. Participation and contribution to YPARD is on a non-remunerated and voluntary basis with a few exceptions to run the Coordination Units.

YPARD Charter [15] defines YPARD and the terms of reference of its governance bodies, which are:

• Constituents (the Members: young professionals between 18–39 years old and supporting members)
• Steering Committee (SC)
• Regional Coordinators (RC)
• Country representatives (CR)
• Local Representatives (LR)
• Global Coordination Unit (GCU)
• Advisory Group (AG).

• Official website