MSU Extension World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute

Michigan was represented at the 2023 World Food Prize Global Youth Institute (GYI) by seven outstanding youth from Ingham, Eaton, Clinton and Mason counties. The delegates were chosen from the 66 youth who participated in the 2023 World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute, which was held May 11 on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing. At the GYI, Michigan’s delegates joined hundreds of other youth and some of the world’s leading experts on food security to learn about our planet’s most critical challenges and to discuss diverse solutions to these grand global issues.

At the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute, students in grades 8-12 presented an overview of the research paper they had written about a country of their choice and a global challenge affecting food security or food access in their chosen country. In their research papers, youth examined the food security status of a typical family living in the country they selected, explained how the global challenge they selected impacted food security in their chosen country, and recommended a variety of potential solutions to the challenges faced by people in their country of study. Students selected one global challenge to focus on in their research papers from 20 options identified by the World Food Prize. The potential global challenges to choose from included topics such as water scarcity, renewable energy, climate volatility, sustainable agriculture, malnutrition, human rights, education and foreign aid. A complete list of topics and more information about the program can be found on the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute website.

The 2023 World Food Prize GYI was held October 24-27 in Des Moines, Iowa, as part of the annual World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium and Laureate Award Ceremony. The World Food Prize website reports that “The World Food Prize is the foremost international award recognizing the accomplishments of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.” Youth participating in the GYI shared their research and recommendations with other youth and global experts, participated in the National Geographic Slingshot Challenge and had the opportunity to hear from Heidi Kuhn, the recipient of the 2023 World Food Prize. Kuhn was recognized for her “farmer-focused development model that revitalizes farmland, food security, livelihoods and resilience after devastating conflict.”

Michigan’s delegates also participated in the Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium, known as the “Borlaug Dialogue.” Coinciding annually each October with the presentation of the World Food Prize, the Borlaug Dialogue is a three-day event that “brings together international experts, policy leaders, business executives and farmers to address cutting-edge issues in global food security and nutrition,” according to the World Food Prize Foundation Michigan youth delegates also participated in a side event organized by MSU and hosted by Dr. Karim Maredia, director of international programs for MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which focused on youth leadership and entrepreneurship for a food-secure world.

Michigan’s youth delegates presented their research and proposed solutions to global challenges related to food security during roundtable discussions with peers and experts while attending the GYI. Michigan’s 2023 delegation to the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute included:

• Lilian Bates, a tenth-grade student from Clinton County, who presented her research on the topic of human rights and air pollution in Iran.
• McKenzie Keck, a tenth-grade student from Saginaw County, who presented her research on the topic of water scarcity in Somalia.
• Alyson Moore, a tenth-grade student from Clinton County, who presented her research on the topic of sustainable agriculture in Haiti.
• Theodore Reedy Beard, a twelfth-grade student from Ingham County, who presented his research on the topic of sustainable agriculture in the Philippines .
• Kevin Rocano Alvarez, a tenth- grade student from Eaton County, who presented his research on the topic of governance and public policy in Venezuela.
• Natalie Shipley, a tenth-grade student from Ingham County, who presented her research on the topic of water scarcity in Mali.
• Dawn Smith, an eleventh-grade student from Mason County, who presented her research on the topic of international trade in the Philippines.

The World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute is an annual MSU pre-college program coordinated by Michigan 4-H with support from the Michigan 4-H Foundation, MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, MSU International Studies and Programs, Michigan State University Extension and Michigan FFA. MSU and the World Food Prize provide funding to cover all expenses, including transportation, lodging and meals, for Michigan’s youth delegates who participate in the World Food Prize GYI.

To learn more about the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute, please contact Brian Wibby, MSU Extension educator, at wibby@msu.edu or 906-439-5065.