Youth Leadership Meets Systems Transformation – How Malaysia is Strengthening Science-Policy-Society Collaboration to Build the Next Generation of Food Systems Leaders

Malaysia is actively shaping a more inclusive, evidence-informed, and youth-driven approach to food systems transformation through the Science-Policy-Society Interface (SPSI), a collaborative initiative supported by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia (MAFS).

As part of this effort, more than 50 participants from government ministries, research institutions, civil society organizations, youth-led agribusinesses, and the private sector convened in Putrajaya, Malaysia, earlier this year for a national SPSI workshop focused on strengthening collaboration across sectors and accelerating implementation of Malaysia’s National Food Systems Pathway.

The workshop marked an important step in Malaysia’s engagement with two of the Hub’s flagship programmes – the Youth Leadership Programme (YLP) and the Science-Policy-Society Interface (SPSI). It also contributed to ongoing efforts to strengthen evidence-informed and youth-inclusive policy processes while supporting dissemination of the UNFSS+4 Youth Declaration for Asia and the Pacific.

“What stood out in this workshop was the way actors from across government, research, civil society, and youth worked together to shape actions none could have developed alone. Malaysia was among the first 30 countries in the region to put forward a National Food Systems Pathway in 2021, and this initiative shows how that early commitment is being translated into coordinated, collective action.” – Dr. Rathana Peou Norbert Munns, Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub

Bridging Knowledge and Action

Malaysia has strong research capacity and scientific expertise. A key focus of the SPSI process is strengthening the connection between research, policy, and implementation so that knowledge can more effectively inform action at scale.

Building on Malaysia’s national policy foundations – including the National Agrofood Policy (NAP) 2.0, the National Nutrition Policy of Malaysia (NNPM) 2.0, the Twelfth Malaysia Plan, and the National Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Policy – participants explored ways to operationalize the National Food Systems Pathway’s five transformation themes through collaborative action planning and stakeholder engagement.

Youth as Co-Creators and Change Agents

A defining theme of the workshop was the shift in how youth are positioned within food systems – from passive beneficiaries to active co-creators and leaders of transformation. In Malaysia, youth make up 43.8% of the population, yet less than 20% are employed in agriculture, reflecting broader challenges facing the sector. At the same time, participants highlighted growing momentum around youth-led innovation, with young entrepreneurs driving new approaches in digital agriculture, circular economy models, and sustainable food production.

Young agri-preneurs showcased innovations in smart agriculture, food waste valorization, and sustainable supply chains, attracting strong interest from policymakers and researchers alike. Participants emphasized the need to:

• Expand access to climate finance;
• Strengthen agri-preneurship programmes; and
• Establish youth-led hubs connected to national policy processes.

“SPSI brings together diverse voices from government, industry, and academia into one unified movement for food systems transformation. It reminds us that real change is not driven by individuals alone, but through strong collective action. Our focus now in Malaysia is to deepen collaboration, build a committed ecosystem, and empower youth as the driving force shaping the future of our food systems.” – Dr. Noraini Binti Ruslan, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia | Youth Leadership Programme (YLP) Alumna

Key Outcomes and Priority Actions

Participants identified several priority areas for continued action over the next 12 months, including:

• Strengthening access to climate finance and insurance for early-career agrifood professionals;
• Enhancing digital infrastructure and data systems, including climate-smart farming and early warning technologies;
• Supporting sustainable production and consumption pilots at school and community levels;
• Improving market access and supply chain linkages for smallholders and youth agri-preneurs;
• Scaling existing innovations and leadership academies through increased investment and public-private partnerships; and
• Promoting circular economy approaches, including waste-to-value systems and bioeconomy models.

Participants also called for stronger coordination across key ministries – including agriculture, health, youth, and finance – as well as broader awareness of Malaysia’s National Food Systems Pathway and more inclusive knowledge systems that integrate traditional and intergenerational expertise.

A Foundation for Long-Term Transformation

The workshop concluded with the presentation of youth-led action plans aligned with Malaysia’s five Food Systems Transformation themes. Participants also committed to advancing a shared roadmap and coordination mechanism to help sustain engagement and track progress moving forward.

“The Science-Policy-Society Interface is about making sure that evidence informs decisions and that researchers and policymakers are in real conversation with one another. Just as importantly, it is about ensuring that the people most affected by food systems choices – including youth, women, smallholder farmers, and local communities – have a genuine voice in shaping those decisions.” – Dr. Nicole De Paula, Technical Officer (Science for Food Systems), UN Food Systems Coordination Hub

Looking ahead, the SPSI process in Malaysia will continue through technical support, capacity building, and documentation of lessons learned. The initiative aligns with priorities outlined in the UNFSS+4 Youth Declaration for Asia and the Pacific and is expected to generate insights that can support similar efforts across the region.