What is Youth Citizens Assembly on Food about?
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland is drafting a national food strategy which outlines the targets and outcomes for a sustainable and economically viable food system by 2040. During the preparation of the strategy, young people have been identified as a key group whose insights are wanted as part of the strategy's planning and implementation.
The Youth Citizens Assembly on Food is a targeted citizens' assembly for randomly selected young adults aged 18 to 24. During the Assembly, participants will have the opportunity to share their views on relevant topics to promote sustainable food production and consumption and what measures can be taken to promote issues that are important to young adults.
What will happen at the Youth Citizens Assembly on Food?
Around 40 young people from across Finland who have volunteered to join the assembly will be invited to take part in the Youth Citizens Assembly on Food. The selected young adults will meet at online and on-site events to discuss and develop a statement for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry regarding relevant topics on sustainable food production and consumption, as well as the measures to promote those issues. Further, participants will have the opportunity to learn about various food-related issues from leading experts in the field. The Assembly's outcome will be a statement to be presented to the Ministry of Agriculture in December 2025, when the national food strategy is due to be published.
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Kick-off weekend in Tampere
Saturday, 1 November 2025, 13:00/14:00–18:00 EEST
- 13:00–14:00 Optional lunch
- 14:00 Official program begins
- 18:00 Official program ends
- 18:00–20:30 Joint activities and dinner
Sun, Nov. 2, 2025, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
- 9:00 Official program begins
- 11:30-12:15 Lunch
- 14:00 End of official program
Program for the opening weekend:
- Getting acquainted
- Presentation of the food strategy and assignment
- Expert consultations
- 1. Brainstorming important issues and actions
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Expert hearings and collaborative work via a digital platform
From 7 to 17 November 2025
- Independent work and moderated meetings, the dates of which will be specified together
- Specifying the important issues and actions identified during the kick-off weekend
- Joint deliberation
- Formulating the statement
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Final event in Tampere
22 November 2025, from 14:00 to 18:00 EEST
- 13:00–14:00 Optional lunch
- 14:00 Official program begins
- 18:00 Official program ends
On agenda:
- Finalization of the statement together
- Final survey and practical matters related to remuneration
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National food strategy launch event in Helsinki
16 December 2025
- A few participants will present the statement at the strategy publication event
- All participants will be invited to the launch event (participation voluntary)
- Possibility to join online or onsite
What are we aiming for?
The aim of the project is to embed new methods of youth participation and targeted deliberation into government decision-making and preparation, and to strengthen young people's agency and understanding of the challenges of the existing food system, possible solutions, necessary actions, and their own opportunities to influence. In our project, we are testing the use of digital platforms and artificial intelligence in the implementation of a citizens' panel. After conducting the assembly, we will disseminate the successes and lessons learned within the government and support learning between different ministries.
About Citizen Assemblies
Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra: Better deliberated decisions through citizens’ panels
University of Turku: Deliberative citizen assembly guide (the site is available in Finnish only)
University of Turku: Examples of deliberative citizen assemblies in Finland (the site is available in Finnish only)
