The virtual forum featured a keynote address from WHO and five selected youth presentations highlighting the factors that shape food choices.
Jakarta, October 21, 2026 — The SEAMEO Regional Center for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO RECFON) hosted “the 2nd Southeast Asian Youth Forum on Food and Nutrition” virtually on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Under the theme “We Are More Than What We Eat: Shaping Food Choices Beyond the Plate,” this forum brought together the youth of Southeast Asia to share experiences and ideas on how food choices are shaped by mental well-being, digital media, food environments, and cultural identity.
SEAMEO RECFON initiated this forum to amplify the voices of young people and encourage dialogue on food and nutrition issues facing the region’s youth. This year’s forum explored four subthemes: healthy eating and mental well-being; digital media and food choices; creating accessible and healthier food environments; and food, culture, and youth identity.
During the opening remark, SEAMEO RECFON Director Prof. Dr. dr. Rini Sekartini, Sp.A(K), explained the reasoning behind this year’s theme. She emphasized out that young people’s food choices are not determined solely by personal taste, as there are many factors in their environment that shape those choices.
“Through this theme, we want to acknowledge that our food choices are shaped by far more than just personal preferences. Those choices are influenced by our well-being, digital media, the food environment around us, as well as our culture and identity,” said Prof. Rini.
Prof. Rini also expressed her delight at the participants’ enthusiasm, noting that the forum received 103 synopses from applicants across Southeast Asian countries. She further extended her appreciation to all parties involved including Co-organizing and Supporting partners.
Dr. Sandro Demaio, Director and Head of Office of the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health, delivered the keynote address, while Dr. Yong Heng Yaw from IMU University, Malaysia, acted as the moderator. In his presentation, Dr. Sandro opened by addressing the strategic role of youth.
Dr. Sandro highlighted the important role of young people in driving change. He emphasized that youth perspectives matter both because young people will live with the consequences of today’s decisions and because they have repeatedly led transformative change throughout history.
Discussing food systems transformation, he highlighted the links between food, public health, and climate change.
“Food is truly our greatest lever for both human health and the health of the planet, and we need to continue to view it that way,” he said.
The forum featured five selected youth presentations from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, followed by a question-and-answer session:
- Dyah Nuraini Sholikhah (Indonesia): “Beyond the Plate: Listening to the People We Feed”
- Nabila Prasisti and Sri Puji Astuti (Indonesia): “Is Your Office Sabotaging Your Health? How Workplace Environments Shape Food Choices”
- Ho Jian Ning Iris and Chen Li Yin (Malaysia): “SHIFT: Shaping Healthier Influences for Tomorrow”
- Lew Rui Thong (Malaysia): “Beyond Convenience: Youth Advocacy for Healthier Food Environments”
- Quennie Ann B. Durian (Philippines): “The Missing Ingredient: Why Healthy Eating Needs Human Connection”
Together, these presentations explored how community feedback, workplace conditions, digital influences, food environments, and human connection can shape healthier food choices.
The youth speakers were selected through a multi-stage selection process for Southeast Asian youth aged 18–35 years, starting from the forum announcement and call for applications, initial synopsis screening, selection of 30 shortlisted applicants, evaluation of full speeches, to the screening of 12 semifinalists. The final selection was conducted in 2 sessions including revising and mentoring to sharpen key messages, structure, and delivery techniques. The five best speakers received appreciation, recognition and given the opportunity to publish their manuscript in the monograph.
Through knowledge exchange and collaboration, this forum is expected to foster concrete initiatives to improve nutritional status and achieve a sustainable food system. SEAMEO RECFON is committed to continuously strengthening the capacity of the younger generation and building multi-stakeholder collaborations for a healthier and more resilient society in Southeast Asia.
Organizers and Supporting Partner
Co-Organizers | Supporting Partners |
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