The Global Youth Institute is a week-long academic conference held in Des Moines, Iowa, each October. Since 1994, nearly 4,000 student delegates have participated. The conference centers on innovative efforts of young leaders to tackle global food security challenges. During the Global Youth Institute, student delegates selected from Youth Institutes share key findings and recommendations from their research with international experts and their peers in roundtable discussions. Students have the opportunity to connect with other global leaders to discuss challenges, share ideas, and develop solutions for a more sustainable and food-secure world.
This year’s Global Youth Institutes will be held in-person from October 21 - 23, in Des Moines, Iowa. Stay tuned for more information.
Interact with Global Leaders
At the Global Youth Institute, student delegates present papers they have researched and written on a critical aspect of food security, and discuss their findings with international experts and their peers in roundtable discussions. Each discussion group of seven to nine students is led by three distinguished global leaders in science, industry, and policy. Student papers are subsequently published in the Global Youth Institute Proceedings and are available online.
Connect with Student Leaders from Around the World
Delegates have a unique opportunity to connect with other student leaders from around the world to discuss global challenges, share ideas, and identify solutions to these programs. Through the Feeding a Fragile World Simulation, an interactive group activity, delegates will better understand global issues and solutions. Delegates will analyze a problem impacting a country, consider the ramifications for different stakeholder groups, and discuss different approaches to addressing food insecurity issues.
Attend the Borlaug Dialogue
Throughout the Global Youth Institute, student and teacher delegates have access to the Borlaug Dialogue, an international symposium on global food security issues, which brings together international experts and policy leaders from around the world.