What was Youth Citizens Jury 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, youth have been identified as a key group whose insights are wanted as part of the strategy's planning and implementation.
The Youth Citizens Jury on Food is a targeted citizens' panel for randomly selected young adults aged 18 to 24. During the Jury, participants had 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 happened at the Youth Citizens Jury on Food?
Around 40 young people from across Finland who had volunteered to join the assembly were invited to take part in the Youth Citizens Jury on Food. The selected young adults met 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 had the opportunity to learn about various food-related issues from leading experts in the field. The Jury's outcome was presented to the Ministry of Agriculture in December 2025.
Schedule
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
Remote working
From 7 to 17 November 2025
- Independent work and moderated meetings
- Specifying the important issues and actions identified during the kick-off weekend
- Joint deliberation
- Formulating the statement
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
Publication event
16 December 2025
- A few participants invited to present the statement at the National Food Strategy strategy publication event
- All participants 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)
