News Scaling Agrifood Innovation: Lessons from the 2026 WFF Panel

Longzhen Han November 9, 2026

Scaling Agrifood Innovation: Lessons from the WFF Panel on Youth, Capital, and Systemic Change

On October 15, 2026, Longzhen Han represented MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) at the World Food Forum in Rome. Speaking at the FAO Headquarters on the panel "How to Reboot Agrifood Investment for a New Generation?" she joined global leaders to discuss how patient capital, low-barrier technologies, and institutional trust can move youth from passive beneficiaries to active co-creators of agrifood transformation.

Watch the Panel Recording: You can watch the full session on the FAO website. Jump directly to the panel discussion starting at 58:58. 
 

Panel Highlights

  • Dorte Verner (Lead Agricultural Economist, World Bank Group) stressed that decision-makers must gather real-world data directly from local communities to prove the economic value of young people and unlock investment. Reflecting on her career, she noted how early field assessments in Latin America revealed that traditional data completely overlooked vulnerable youth, driving her to build evidence for overlooked potential globally. She highlighted circular insect farming, using organic waste and black soldier fly larvae to produce sustainable protein and generate up to 15 million fast-turnover jobs, as a low-barrier innovation that reduces the need for arable land. She emphasized that integrating youth requires moving beyond simple headcounts toward active training, monitoring, and two-way learning.
  • Peter Umunay (Thematic Lead, Food Systems and Land Use, Global Environment Facility) shared his journey from rural DRC to Yale and global environmental leadership to illustrate the power of mentorship and trust. He highlighted how small-grant programs can empower young community members, citing a project in Zimbabwe where 50 young women not only established fish ponds but developed an app to track production and feeding. Drawing on his management of a $285 million food system transformation program, Peter advocated for giving youth organizations direct seats at the decision-making table and control over budgets, positioning them as essential co-creators and drivers of sustainable development rather than passive beneficiaries.
  • Longzhen Han (Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives, MIT J-WAFS) explored the role of innovation ecosystems in supporting young innovators bridge the gap between lab research and commercial markets through strong institutional support, mentorship, and long-horizon funding. Using the 13-year journey of MIT spinout Takachar, a startup converting agricultural waste into carbon-rich products to eliminate field burning, she illustrated why standard venture capital models fail agtech hardware founders, arguing instead for a shift toward "patient capital.". By combining non-dilutive grants, fellowships, and long-horizon investments, innovation ecosystems can give young entrepreneurs the extended runway needed to scale deep-tech agrifood solutions.

Key Takeaways

  • Empowerment over inclusion metrics: Engage youth as strategic co-creators with direct decision-making power and budget control, rather than tracking tokenistic headcount metrics.
  • Low-barrier sustainable innovations: Circular insect farming and waste-to-value technologies bypass traditional barriers like land access and heavy capital costs, enabling rapid economic growth.
  • The necessity of patient capital: Hard-tech agrifood startups require long-horizon funding structures ("patient capital") rather than traditional venture capital timelines to navigate the lengthy path from lab to market.