Global Youth Institute Press Release

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 5, 2023 Contact: Blake Van Der Kamp, GWC Intern Address: 100 Locust Street Des Moines, Iowa 50309 USA Phone: +1 515-245-3783 Email: bvanderkamp@worldfoodprize.org

151 international youth gather for the first Global Youth Institute since 2019 DES MOINES, Iowa - From October 24 to 27, 151 youth participants from over half a dozen countries gathered for the World Food Prize Foundation’s Global Youth Institute (GYI). This event was the first GYI held in-person since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. During this four-day event, attendees discussed solving food insecurity, talked about research and heard from industry experts at the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines.

“The Global Youth Institute is an opportunity for students from local state institutes and international institutes to share their innovation ideas around how do we solve this grand challenge of global food security,” said Renee Cooper, program manager of global youth programs and partnership.

“More importantly, they get to collaborate with each other and meet a community of changemakers to really activate a community who is going to change the world one day.”

Throughout the conference, students participated in the National Geographic Society’s Slingshot Challenge and met with author Roger Thurow and celebrated their work at GYI. - MORE –

When asked about her experiences at the conference, GYI participant Lily Ferguson said, “some of my favorite things were watching global leaders speak in person, which is an experience that we don’t get to have every day.”

She also said, “the best part of the Global Youth Institute is making so many friends. You get to meet people from so many countries, and you get to make friends that you know for a very long time.”

To attend GYI, students first participated in regional youth institutes.

There, individuals researched global problems and proposed a solution in a several-page essay. These essays were then reviewed and used to select over 150 youth to attend GYI. For more information about the Global Youth Institute, visit www.worldfoodprize.org. ### ABOUT THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE FOUNDATION The World Food Prize Foundation’s mission is to elevate innovations and inspire action to sustainably increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all. With roots dating back to 1986, the Foundation promotes its mission through the annual week of events including the Global Youth Institute and Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue. The organization also host a variety of internships, fellowships and award programs such as the famous World Food Prize named after 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Norman Borlaug. To learn more, visit www.worldfoodprize.org.