Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, has shared the nation’s ambitious food security and agricultural transformation agenda with young leaders from across the world at the Global Youth Institute Academic Conference in Iowa, hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation.

The annual event brings together future innovators, scientists, policymakers, and development experts to discuss solutions to global challenges such as hunger, malnutrition, and climate change.

In his keynote address, Dr. Kpaka spoke passionately about his journey—from surviving Sierra Leone’s civil war to earning a PhD at the London School of Economics—describing education as the force that transformed his life and gave him a deep sense of duty to serve his country.

He outlined Sierra Leone’s agricultural roadmap, highlighting the Feed Salone Initiative, a nationwide program designed to increase food production, reduce reliance on imports, and create jobs, especially for young people. The initiative, he said, represents the government’s broader vision of achieving food self-sufficiency through innovation, inclusivity, and strategic investment.

In a major announcement, Dr. Kpaka unveiled the creation of Sierra Leone’s first Youth Institute, developed in partnership with the World Food Prize Foundation. The institute aims to empower secondary school students to engage in agricultural research, connect with peers globally, and contribute fresh ideas to sustainable food systems.

“We are doing all this with young people, not for them,” he emphasized, reaffirming the government’s commitment to youth-led agricultural transformation through incubation programs, agribusiness training, and innovation hubs.

Dr. Kpaka concluded his speech by calling on young people to take active roles in shaping global food security. “Stay curious, stay bold, and stay connected,” he urged. “Together, we can build a future where no one goes hungry—from the soil up.”

The conference drew representatives from key global organizations, including the World Food Prize Foundation, World Bank, FAO, WFP, IFAD, and AGRA, underscoring Sierra Leone’s growing reputation as a leader in sustainable agriculture and inclusive development across Africa.