Co-chair Ban Ki-moon and the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens (BKMC) joined FAO’s celebration of its 80th anniversary and the World Food Forum (WFF) in Rome, Italy, to drive action for transforming agrifood systems through the power of youth, science and innovation, and investment.  

Monika Froehler, CEO of the BKMC, opened the week on a high note, participating in the Grand Opening of the WFF on October 13, 2025, by moderating an intergenerational roundtable titled “Science and Innovation for A Better Food Future”. Alongside the Prime Minister of Eswatini, H.E. Russel Dlamini, and two members of WFF Young Scientists Group, Kenza Bouzoubaa and Barituka Bekee. As a moderator of the panel, CEO Monika Froehler emphasized the need to direct more public and private investment into agricultural research and innovation through global networks like CGIAR.

On October 15, 2025, Youth AgriChampion, Wendy-Yam Osman, and CEO Monika Froehler participated in the Alliance Bioversity & CIAT’s Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP). Speaking on the panel titled “Science for Impact: Deployment Through Global Collaboration”, CEO Monika Froehler spotlighted the role of collaboration as a force to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation. Meanwhile, Wendy-Yam Osman showcased her hydroponics agribusiness in the Innovation Showcase and spoke on the panel, “Financing Development: Powering Innovation from Lab to Launch”.

On World Food Day, the 8^th Secretary-General of the United Nations and BKMC Co-chair Ban Ki-moon joined the High-Level Ceremony, alongside esteemed speakers including His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, King Letsie III of Lesotho, Queen Letizia of Spain, Uruguay President Yamandú Orsi Martínez, and many others. He shared the deeply personal meaning that the right to food holds for him “I know what it means to go to bed hungry, and I know how the gift of food can restore hope and dignity. That experience has never left me, and it is why I believe so deeply in FAO’s mission.”

In an important milestone for the BKMC’s “Elevating Agricultural Adaptation” program, the side event “Empowering Youth Through Agroecology: Building Climate Resilience and Participatory Systems” marked the launch of the 2025 Youth AgriChampion Demand Paper. Co-organized by the BKMC, YPARD, and the Agroecology Coalition, Co-Chair Ban Ki-moon gave inspiring opening remarks to an enthusiastic audience of young advocates, farmers, scientists, youth, and agroecology experts. Youth AgriChampions, Wendy-Yam Osman and Enocka Odongo, emphasized young smallholder farmers’ role in practicing agroecology to accelerate food system transformation and advance climate adaptation in agriculture. Lastly, COO Katre Olmez closed the session with an urgent call to action for governments to recognize and invest in youth leadership.

The BKMC was also delighted to create in-person connections with FAO colleagues, including representatives from the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership, Agriculture Officer at FAO and Agroecology Expert Pierre Ferrand, and Mr. Kazuki Kitaoka, Director of the FAO’s Office of Youth and Women and Lauren Phillips, Deputy Director, Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, FAO. These meetings solidified the united mission of FAO and the BKMC to work towards ending food insecurity and improving agricultural adaptation.

The BKMC team also had productive meetings with Mr. Toby Parker, the UK’s Minister Counsellor, Chargé d’Affaires, and Deputy Permanent Representative to International Organisations in Rome and EU Ambassador to Rome, Dr. Martin Selmayr, where the BKMC highlighted the need for enhanced investment in climate-resilient agriculture and adaptation strategies.

Lastly, the BKMC facilitated an invaluable Meet and Greet between Co-Chair Ban Ki-moon and Youth AgriChampions, Wendy-Yam Osman, Enocka Odongo, and Azeez Salawu. They exchanged important issues surrounding gender empowerment as well as strategies for promoting climate-focused initiatives in a challenging political landscape.