Did you know that from October 12–17, 2025, Meatless Monday Indonesia (MMI) participated in the World Food Forum 2025 Global Youth Action Initiative in Rome, Italy? The event became a gathering space for young people, farmers, chefs, policymakers, investors, and communities from around the world to discuss the future of food systems with a shared spirit of solidarity, innovation, and purpose.

With the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” the event was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) while also celebrating FAO’s 80th anniversary. Through the World Food Forum, participants were encouraged to design global solutions ranging from the use of technology and agroforestry, preserving traditional knowledge, reforming food education, to encouraging greater youth participation in policymaking processes.

The forum brought together participants from diverse fields of expertise to explore collaborative strategies in addressing food system challenges. It also served as a platform to share lessons from data, case studies, and field experiences that demonstrate how meaningful change can happen.

At the same time, the event created space for young people to showcase their contributions and amplify the perspectives of youth leaders, Indigenous communities, researchers, and the private sector in order to promote more inclusive and sustainable approaches, while strengthening partnerships and alliances so that innovation and transformation within agrifood systems can move faster.

In addition, Meatless Monday Indonesia, together with Meatless Monday Global representatives from the United States, China, and South Africa, used this opportunity to introduce the Meatless Monday movement and explain the advocacy efforts that have been carried out across different countries.

From Interaction to Action: The Meatless Monday Story at WFF

At the World Food Forum, Meatless Monday opened an interactive booth. The goal was simple: to help people better understand that Meatless Monday is not merely about “not eating meat every Monday,” but rather a journey toward a more mindful and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Visitors participated in a variety of activities, including discussions and interactive sessions where they shared their hopes for a more sustainable and better food future through telephone engagement activities. Participants recognized that the Meatless Monday mission aligns closely with key World Food Forum issues such as climate action, biodiversity, sustainable food systems, and the protection of clean water ecosystems.

Participants also emphasized the importance of plant-based proteins and viewed the campaign not as a strict dietary rule, but as a cultural journey and an exploration of food traditions.

Several important lessons emerged from these interactions. Meatless Monday was more easily accepted when positioned as a flexible, inclusive, and enjoyable movement, especially through its “one day a week” approach that can adapt to various cultures and lifestyles.

Although many participants already understood the connection between meat consumption and its environmental and health impacts, they still needed practical steps communicated through simple messaging. Storytelling about food traditions and family eating habits also proved to be far more effective in delivering the campaign message. Meanwhile, the enthusiasm shown by young people opened new opportunities for networking and local innovation.

Beyond the booth activities, the Meatless Monday team also actively participated in several engaging and relevant sessions connected to the movement, including:

Youth Assembly: Agrifood Systems, NDC 3.0, and COP30

This session highlighted several key points, including:

• The strategic role of young people in advancing sustainable and climate-friendly food systems
• The importance of youth representation in global climate decision-making
• Youth-led solutions and youth voices in COP30 discussions on food, climate, and sustainability

Plant-Based Diets from a Nutrition Perspective

Key takeaways included:

• Diets should be nutritionally adequate, diverse, and affordable
• Traditional eating practices can support healthy dietary transitions
• Gastronomy plays an important role in increasing acceptance of plant-based diets
• Youth collaboration is essential in promoting sustainable eating habits

The Future of Food

This session explored how the future of food connects with the Meatless Monday movement through:

• Promoting climate-friendly plant-based foods
• Improving nutrition
• Helping protect the environment
• Supporting fair and inclusive food choices

The journey of Meatless Monday Indonesia at the World Food Forum 2025 demonstrates one important thing: young people have a major role in transforming the future of food.

So stay tuned—because the journey of Meatless Monday Indonesia is far from over!