Rome, Italy, October 2025 – At the World Food Forum (WFF) Flagship Event 2025, held last week at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Worldchefs showcased its commitment to youth empowerment and sustainable food systems.
Highlighting Worldchefs’ Global Impact
Connie Lau, Worldchefs Director of Operations and Projects, and Ajla Dunga, Project Event Coordinator, joined global leaders and partners to explore how chefs can inspire the next generation and drive a more sustainable future for food.
“We’re honoured to be invited to showcase how Worldchefs is contributing to youth development and sustainability,” said Connie Lau. “Chefs play a key role in shaping how the world thinks about food. Thank you to the FAO and World Food Forum teams for bringing such inspiring minds together.”
Collaborating for a Sustainable Food System
Throughout the event, Worldchefs engaged in meaningful discussions with key partners, including Kazuki Kitaoka, Director, Office of Youth and Women and Flora Igoe, Head of the Youth Culture Programme, at FAO, as well as Paul Newnham and Clare Crowe Pettersson from the Chefs’ Manifesto.
Sessions were held throughout the course of the event, exploring topics such as plant-based diets and indigenous food traditions. There were also interesting discussions on the role of e-learning in making culinary education more accessible worldwide. These fruitful conversations sparked insights that will power the future of Worldchefs’ own Feed the Planet and Worldchefs Academy programs.
“Collaborating with Worldchefs on the upcoming Young Chefs Programme (YCP) has been an inspiring experience. Having Worldchefs exhibit at the Youth Booth in the FAO Atrium during the World Food Forum Flagship Event brought the energy and purpose of their youth-led initiatives directly to our visitors,” said Flora Igoe, Head of the Youth Culture Programme at FAO. “The exhibition effectively demonstrated how culinary skills can drive system-wide change in our agrifood systems. I encourage all young chefs to apply to the YCP and take part in this exciting journey to become leaders in transforming agrifood systems through culinary practices.”
“The World Food Forum Flagship event in Rome was buzzing with energy and purpose,” said Ajla Dunga, Worldchefs Project Event Coordinator. “We had the chance to talk with people from all over the world, meeting students, professionals and experts from different organizations who share the same drive to take responsibility for our future. You could truly feel the shared commitment to change.”
A Shared Mission for a Better Food Future
Worldchefs’ participation at the WFF Flagship Event reflects its ongoing partnership with FAO and its shared mission to create a better food future. The event provided an important opportunity to showcase Worldchefs’ initiatives and connect with organizations and individuals leading like-minded efforts in sustainability, education, and community empowerment.
“It’s through these collaborations that we can amplify our collective impact,” said Lau. “By leveraging our global network of chefs, we can help drive positive change at every level, in kitchens, classrooms, and communities worldwide.”
Worldchefs extends its gratitude to the FAO and World Food Forum teams for bringing together a passionate community dedicated to rethinking our global food systems and shaping a more sustainable tomorrow. Looking ahead, Worldchefs is excited to continue its collaboration with WFF through the recently launched World Food Forum Young Chefs Programme (YCP). This initiative empowers chefs aged 18 to 35 to lead the transformation of agrifood systems through structured trainings, mentorships, peer-to-peer exchange, and ongoing guidance supported by Worldchefs. To learn more about the programme and apply, click here.
