Inspiring the next generation of potato growers, innovators and leaders
The 13th World Potato Congress is delighted to introduce the WPC 2026 Youth Engagement & 4K Club Program, an exciting initiative designed to place young people at the heart of conversations about the future of potatoes, agriculture, nutrition and sustainable food systems.
Taking place as part of WPC 2026 in Kenya, the program will bring together 40 4K Club members from Nairobi and Nakuru Counties, connecting young people from urban and rural communities and creating a unique bridge between agricultural production and food consumption.
For World Potato Congress Inc. and the WPC 2026 Local Organizing Committee, engaging the next generation is an important part of the legacy we want this Congress to leave behind.
The challenges and opportunities facing the global potato industry extend far beyond a single Congress. Food security, climate resilience, sustainable production, nutrition, innovation and value addition will increasingly depend on the knowledge, creativity and leadership of the next generation. By giving young people an opportunity to participate, learn and contribute, WPC 2026 aims to help build an early connection between young people and the enormous potential offered by agriculture and the wider potato value chain.
40 Young Participants
2 Counties
Nairobi & Nakuru
10 School Demonstration Plots
5 Competition Categories
40 Trees Creating a WPC 2026 Legacy
From the Classroom to the Field
The program has been designed to combine education, competition, practical experience and international exposure.
Young participants will explore the potato value chain from different perspectives. Nairobi 4K Club members will bring an urban consumer perspective, exploring nutrition, food preparation, communication and value addition, while participating schools in Nakuru will focus particularly on production, Good Agricultural Practices and practical learning through potato demonstration plots.
Ten participating 4K Club schools in Nakuru County will be involved in a demonstration plot and capacity-building program, working alongside agricultural specialists to develop practical skills in areas including land preparation, certified seed production, soil health management, integrated pest control, agricultural record-keeping and the application of good agricultural practices.
Importantly, the learning does not end at WPC 2026. The knowledge gained through the central demonstration initiative is intended to support the development of demonstration plots within participating schools, creating living laboratories where students can continue learning and share their knowledge with classmates, younger students and their wider farming communities.
Young Voices at WPC 2026
A selection of top-performing 4K Club members will join international delegates at the main Congress at Sawela Lodges & Convention Centre on Wednesday, 28 October.
They will have an opportunity to experience the international Congress environment, participate in the dedicated Youth & Women Session, explore the WPC 2026 exhibition and engage with the organizations, researchers, businesses and agricultural leaders helping to shape the future of the global potato sector.
The wider group will simultaneously take part in practical preparations and learning activities at the Farmers Field Day site before all 40 young participants come together at FreshCrop on Thursday, 29 October for the WPC 2026 Farmers Field Day.
Five Competitions. One Future.
The program will celebrate the creativity, knowledge and practical skills of young people through five competition categories:
- Best Nutrition Promotion Video
- Best Potato Dish Video
- Best Artwork
- Best Demonstration Plot
- Best Agricultural Record-Keeping
Through these activities, participants will explore everything from nutrition, communication and culinary innovation to climate-smart potato production and responsible farm management.
The artwork competition will invite participants to interpret the WPC 2026 theme “Global Potato Partnership for Enhanced Food Systems, Nutrition Security and Trade”, with selected artwork contributing to the visual presentation of the WPC Potato Bus.
Top performers will be recognized with trophies and certificates during the Farmers Field Day program.
40 Members. 40 Trees. One Lasting Legacy.
One of the most symbolic moments of the program will take place during the Farmers Field Day.
Together, the 40 participating 4K Club members will establish the WPC 2026 Tree Corner, with each young participant planting a commemorative tree.
40 Members. 40 Trees.
The Tree Corner will create a living reminder of WPC 2026 and its commitment to young people, sustainability and the future of agriculture in Kenya.
Just as those trees will continue to grow long after delegates have returned home, WPC 2026 hopes the knowledge, curiosity and enthusiasm developed through the program will continue to grow within participating schools and communities.
