In Milan, young citizens proved that policymaking can be participatory. During Food Wave’s “Feed Your Future!” initiative, an event organised prior to the COP26, 253 young participants joined workshops and debates with policymakers, experts, and activists on how cities can build fair and sustainable food systems.

Working with the Municipality of Milan and ActionAid Italy, participants developed concrete proposals to reduce single-use plastics in school canteens, increase access to plant-based meals, and expand food-education and waste-reduction programmes.

Some of these ideas fed into ongoing municipal discussions and youth-led projects, including seven community street actions across Milan that invited residents to co-create local solutions within the framework of the City’s food policy.
The initiative also made headlines – with 40+ media features in major Italian outlets – showing that when young people join the table, policymakers have to listen.