Youth Perceptions and Policy Pathways for Enhancing Youth Engagement in Advancing Agriculture and Promoting Agroecology in Marginal Rural Areas

Understanding young people's perceptions of agri-food transformation towards a more sustainable trajectory is essential in developing countries. This comprehension is of paramount importance as it sheds light on the critical challenges faced, including the paucity of employment opportunities, barriers to entrepreneurship and leadership, and the broader prospects for the future of agri-food systems. The present study examines the perceptions of youth regarding agriculture and agroecology in Tunisia in a semi-arid mixed landscape of cereals, trees and small ruminants, focusing on a case study in the village of Kesra, and highlights their potential role in transforming the agricultural sector. Firstly, agroecology, defined as an integrated approach that combines ecological, social, and economic dimensions, resonates with the aspirations of young people for autonomy, sustainability, and local development. A mixed-methods approach is employed, consisting of semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews and a photovoice methodology, complemented by youth and gender-differentiated analysis of implicit and explicit statements. The findings of this study reveal a gendered, complementary vision of agroecology, wherein young men prioritize income generation and livestock, underscoring principles such as recycling and soil preservation. In contrast, young women focus on healthy food, nature, and circular practices, including tree cultivation. Secondly, respondents associate agroecology with ancestral knowledge, landscape beauty, and biodiversity, demonstrating a nostalgic connection to traditional practices perceived as sustainable. In this context, there is no distinction in terms of gender perspectives: rather, complementarities emerge that have the potential to reinforce a shared, robust agroecological vision. However, young people face numerous interconnected challenges, primarily limited access to land, inadequate funding, and weak institutional support which hinders their integration into agroecological pathways. Consequently, the revitalization of the agricultural sector through the involvement of youth in agroecology transition in marginal rural areas that are heavily dependent on agriculture such as Kesra, has the potential to contribute to community resilience, food security, and sustainable local development. To this end, policymakers must recognize the dual role of young people as both future producers and as innovators, leaders, and custodians of cultural and environmental heritage. The promotion of agroecology in this context is a response to both socio-economic needs and the urgent environmental challenges faced by the country, offering a pathway to inclusive rural revitalization.