On May 30th, 2025, AJEA proudly hosted the international conference “The Importance of Urban Agriculture in Achieving SDGs” in Braga, as part of the Erasmus+ project Food4Thought. The event brought together a diverse audience of youth workers, NGO representatives, young people, project partners, and local stakeholders to explore the essential role of urban agriculture in building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities.

The conference began with opening remarks from Fernando Vieira, President of AJEA, followed by Daniel Pinto, Municipal Councillor for Sustainability. Both speakers highlighted the significance of engaging young people in sustainability efforts and the city’s commitment to environmental leadership.

A key part of the event was the presentation of the Food4Thought project by Ioana Ursache, Project Coordinator from GEO CLUB (Romania), who detailed the project’s goals, activities, and results. She emphasized how urban gardening, digital learning, and community involvement are empowering young people across Europe to become agents of sustainable change.Participants were also inspired by a local youth   story shared by Diogo Carvalho, who demonstrated how urban farming has positively shaped his personal growth and community engagement.

This was followed by an insightful intervention from Cristian Doroftei, who spoke about the importance of youth participation in shaping the future of urban agriculture, particularly in the context of meeting the SDGs. In addition to the Food4Thought presentation, Stefania Tudorache, Project Manager at AJEA, introduced the TasteMakers project, which promotes sustainable food culture and local gastronomy through youth-led initiatives. To conclude, Andreea Stanciulescu, Project Assistant at AJEA, delivered the closing remarks, thanking all attendees for their active participation and commitment to advancing sustainability and youth empowerment across borders.

The conference created a space for dialogue, learning, and inspiration, reinforcing the idea that urban agriculture is not only a tool for environmental action but also a catalyst for social inclusion, education, and achieving the SDGs.