Nordregio is an international research institute established by the Nordic Council of Ministers

2 October 2025

Engaging youth in the future of food

How can different actors work to support and increase young people’s interest in agri-food careers?

Food production is vital for both food security and the green transition. Yet, across the Nordic Region, fewer young people are choosing a future in the sector. The Growing Food(ies) project has explored the challenges and mapped out a series of actionable policy recommendations to reverse this trend, with the help of a reference group consisting of representatives from Nordic youth organisations in the food systems sector.

Watch the webinar recording and the official launch of the project’s final report. At the event, we presented the findings and heard from key actors in the Nordic food sector on how to turn insights into action.

Agenda

  • Welcome by Sara Melander, Communications Officer & Host at Nordregio
  • Presentation of the Growing Food(ies) policy recommendations by Karen Refsgaard, Project Lead, Nordregio/LinkNordic
  • Panel discussion with Nordic stakeholders working to strengthen youth engagement in food production (pre-recorded from side-event during Green Innovation Week in Skive, Denmark)
    • Lotten Lundgren, Business Advisor, Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund (SE)
    • Meri Remes, Senior Specialist Young Farmers, Centralförbundet för lant- och skogsbruksproducenter (FI)
    • Torsten Gruhn, Head of Development, Fjordland Landboforening (DE)
    • Charlotta Rydberg, Head of Section, Naturbruksskolornas Förening (SE)
    • Katrine Søndergård, Teacher, Nordic Food College (DE)
    • Moderator: Torfi Johannesson, Nordic Insights (IS)
  • Q&A & comments from Nordic youth representatives in the agri-food sector including:
    • Klara Jolanki, Animal caretaker & Board member of LRFU Norrbotten (SE)
    • Eyðun Hansen, Fish farmer (FO)
    • Eivind Skari, Farmer & Quality consultant, fresh produce (NO)

Event recording

Information

2 October 2025

13:00 – 14:00 CEST

When? 2 October, 13:00-14:00 CET
Where? Zoom

Contact person
Sara Melander

Communications Officer