During the 2025 Internal Affairs Session of the General Assembly of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), two outstanding young farmers – Rafael Riedel from CNA Brazil and Mologadi Ngoetjiana from AFASA South Africa – took the floor on behalf of the 2024–2025 cohort of the WFO Gymnasium, delivering a powerful and united message on the future of agriculture.

This year’s General Assembly also marked the conclusion of the 2024–2025 edition of the WFO Gymnasium, closing a year of leadership training and global engagement for its cohort of young farmer leaders.

Speaking with determination, the two representatives offered heartfelt reflections on the personal and collective impact of the programme, highlighting how it has shaped a new generation of young agricultural leaders, while calling on the Organisation and its members to continue investing in youth participation in global decision-making spaces.

“It is easy to take for granted all the opportunities this programme gave us. We won’t let that happen,” they said. “The WFO Gymnasium has unlocked our potential and empowered us to lead.”

The Gymnasium is the flagship leadership development programme of the World Farmers’ Organisation. It aims to empower young farmers to become effective advocates in global decision-making spaces by equipping them with high-level leadership, negotiation, and advocacy skills. Since its inception, the programme has connected grassroots realities with international policy platforms—shaping a new generation of farmer leaders committed to sustainability and inclusion.

Real Impact, Real Leaders

Their remarks were grounded in tangible outcomes, with examples from fellow Gymnasium cohort members across different regions of the world:

• Medias Kukunda (Uganda) launched her startup KunDa Agro Ltd, offering climate-smart advisory services to farmers. She also took on a national leadership role promoting sustainable land restoration practices and joined key agricultural policy dialogues.
• David Charles Newcombe (Canada) became a recognised leader for young farmers and a mental health advocate in his province, participating in high-level discussions and creating support networks for farmers.
• Valary Achieng Otieno (Kenya) described the programme as a life-changing experience that gave her the tools to advocate effectively for youth and women farmers, both locally and internationally.
• Martin Richard Murray (Australia) is now revitalising farmer representation bodies to make them more approachable and relevant to the younger generation.

More than Training: A Platform for Change

Riedel and Ngoetjiana underscored that the Gymnasium programme has been more than a leadership course—it has been a catalyst for action, bridging grassroots realities with international policymaking and enabling young farmers to act boldly and purposefully.

“We’re not just prepared to lead in our countries. We’re ready to lead globally connecting agriculture, climate action, and sustainable development.”

A Strategic Appeal: Youth at COP30

The session concluded with a powerful plea: to bring young farmers to the table at COP30, set to take place in Brazil later this year.

“We are the generation growing up in a climate-aware world. We see the impacts of climate change daily, and we are the ones sounding the alarm. Agriculture cannot be left out of the climate conversation—and young farmers must be present to represent its future.”

They argued that youth representation at COP30 would not only be meaningful but strategic. With land use, nature, and climate policy in focus, it is crucial to emphasise the positive role of farmers as stewards of nature and agents of sustainability.

“If the future is being negotiated, those who will live it must be in the room. We are ready.”

The WFO Gymnasium once again proved its role as a powerful platform to prepare the next generation of farmer leaders. The message from Rafael and Mologadi was clear: investing in youth is investing in the long-term resilience and sustainability of agriculture.

Cover photo: ©WFO