Join the Ban Ki-moon Foundation (BKMF) at the 2025 World Food Forum (WFF) in Rome, Italy.
From October 13–17, 2025, the BKMF will host several events highlighting our work on agricultural adaptation, agroecology, and youth-led solutions.
Featured Speakers at our events include: Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations & BKMF Co-chair; Monika Froehler, BKMF CEO; Katre Olmez, BKMF COO; Wendy Osman and Israel Smart, BKMF Youth AgriChampions.
Find us in person and online at:
WFF 2025
October 13
-14.00-17.00: WFF 2025 Grand Opening (Plenary Hall, FAO HQ, Rome)
October 16
-09.00 – 10.30: Youth Assembly Session on the Rome Water Dialogue (Ethiopia Room, FAO HQ, Rome)
-Speaking: BKMF Youth AgriChampions Wendy Osman and Israel Smart
-10.00-10.30: World Food Day Ceremony – FAO80 (Plenary Hall, FAO HQ, Rome)
Speaking: Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Co-chair of the BKMF
-15.30 – 16.30: BKMF Side Event “Empowering Youth Through Agroecology: Building Climate Resilience and Participatory Systems” – hosted by the BKMF, Agroecology Coalition and YPARD (Philippines Room, FAO HQ, Rome)
The event explores agroecology as a pathway to more inclusive and sustainable food systems, strengthening livelihoods, youth empowerment, and climate resilience. Through dialogue, case studies and youth-led advocacy, the session spotlights how youth and marginalised communities can lead in building regenerative and just food systems. It will also launch the BKMF’s 2025 Youth AgriChampions Demand Paper, featuring policy recommendations from young farmers and advocates in driving grassroot change.
-Speaking: Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Co-chair of the BKMF; Katre Olmez, BKMF COO
-15.00-17.00: Food Futures: Conversations for a Better World (Plenary Hall, FAO HQ, Rome)
Speaking: Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Co-chair of the BKMF
Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP) Flagship Event
October 15, CIAT HQ, Rome, Italy
Held under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and hosted at the headquarters of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in Rome, the event convenes leaders from research, industry, government, finance, and the startup world to explore how bold ideas in agrifood, climate, and sustainability can move from breakthrough to scale.
-14.40 – 15.40 CEST: Panel III: “Science for Impact: Deployment Through Global Collaboration”
Speaking: CEO of the BKMF, Monika Froehler
-15:50 – 16:40 CEST: Innovation Showcase II: Pitching Session
Speaking: Youth AgriChampions Wendy Osman and Israel Smart


