Last October 2025, the “Future of Family Farming: Policy Innovations for Young Farmers” was held in Rome at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters as part of the World Food Forum where Lourdes Perona López was nominated for the Young Farmers Award and shares her inspiring journey and vision for the future of rural agriculture and its leaders to come. 

As one of the celebrated farmers, Lourdes Perona López, an agricultural technical engineer from Spain was recognized for introducing drone and GPS technologies that allows her to monitor her flock in real time, optimize grazing, and protect animal welfare, all the while maintaining the traditions of extensive grazing.

Touching on her experience, as a young farmer who grew up and lived in the farms and seeing it as a way of life, she shared a message that captured the heart of the discussion resonating among the participants: “Rural youth do not need to be told what to do, we need to be listened to — this means including us from the beginning in policy creation and trusting in our capacity”.

López also highlighted the crucial but often overlooked role of women in agriculture: “For too long we have been invisible … focusing on us is acknowledging that without rural women, there is no rural future. Investing in young people and women in farming is investing in the food sovereignty of tomorrow.” The interview sheds light on the importance of young farmers and innovators like López who are reshaping and keeping agriculture alive through technology, sustainability, and advocacy for inclusivity. She also calls for participatory policy-making where the participants developed a shared-understanding that young people should not only be benefiting from agricultural policies but also help in shaping them. “Public policies have improved in some areas but they are still far from the reality on the ground… I believe policies should be more flexible, closer to reality, and above all, developed with us and not just for us” López added.

This event further emphasized the broader goals and visions of the UN Decade of Family Farming — that young family farmers are not only the future, but the present of agriculture that leads the way in fostering rural development, leading innovation, practicing and encouraging sustainable food system practices for the generations thereafter.

Article contributed by Prishtine Alejandro, ComdevAsia intern.