Joint editorial by the CIHEAM, the Union for the Mediterranean, and the CMI-UNOPS

Climate change, the Covid19 pandemic, and recent conflicts are disrupting our Mediterranean societies. These crises particularly threaten rural and agricultural communities that are already vulnerable as a result of poor development, environmental degradation, drought, and the gradual abandonment of the peasantry. They undermine the food supply systems of these communities and affect their livelihoods more severely, thus putting them at increased risk of
poverty.

This situation particularly affects young people, especially in terms of training and employment opportunities. Many young people today have
neither the skills nor the capital or land to access or create gainful employment in rural and agricultural areas. All these difficulties strengthen socio-economic inequalities, which in turn fuel distress and radicalization of all kinds.

In addition to the challenges of climate change and endangered ecosystems, there are also those of food insecurity, massive youth unemployment, and many others. The current situation in the Mediterranean, therefore, calls on us to question the efficiency and sustainability of our development, production, and consumption models. It pushes us to accelerate the necessary transitions.

There are solutions to overcome these challenges and none of them can do without the genuine participation of young people and the consideration of gender inequalities. Far from catastrophic approaches, Mediterranean youth is a real strength because of its diversity and ingenuity.

Representing a significant part of the Mediterranean population, young people must be considered as allies and above all actors of sustainable development, green agriculture, and the blue economy. These desired transitions towards more sustainable and fairer models cannot achieve their objectives without strengthening the capacities of young people,
allowing them to decide and act in agri-food systems. Their creative potential and dynamism are unavoidable realities.

They just need to be more recognized, valued, and supported.
This joint publication by the CIHEAM, the UfM, and CMI-UNOPS gives voice to young researchers, entrepreneurs and activists with ideas and projects for a different kind of rural and agricultural development. It contributes to the debate on their role in the drafting of new paradigms and presents promising avenues to respond to the pressing challenges of the region.

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