International Participants

In order to increase access and opportunity for all students the World Food Prize Foundation will be hosting two new Virtual Youth Institute opportunities for students.

Students will have the choice to participate in either:

A Live Virtual Youth Institute on Monday, May 24th, or
An On Demand Virtual Youth Institute from Tuesday, May 25th-28th

This online event will allow all participants the opportunity to present their written research to real-world experts and participate in exciting activities while solving our world’s toughest problems. Please use the links on the right-hand side of this page to submit your paper and register. The registration will open on Monday, March 1st and will close by Thursday, April 15th.

Questions? Email youthprograms@worldfoodprize.org.

World Food Prize Youth Institutes are life-changing experiences where outstanding high school students engage with leaders and experts in food security, to discuss critical global challenges, participate in hands-on activities, and explore exciting ways to make a difference in their own communities and around the world.

Students research issues they care about, and propose their ideas to solve these grand challenges.

Why Participate?

At this exciting event, participating high school students become recognized as Borlaug Scholars and have the opportunity to:

Present research and recommendations on ways to solve key global challenges in a short speech and small group discussions with global food security experts;
Connect with other student leaders to share ideas, identify solutions to these problems and build lasting friendships;
Explore the issues, current research and opportunities to make a difference in the world; and
Interact with global leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs working to end hunger and poverty and improve food security around the world.

Papers will be evaluated by The World Food Prize Board of Reviewers. This distinguished group of educators and experts was established to mentor and personally encourage students. Reviewers write thoughtful, personalized feedback to each student who applies to the Global Youth Institute.

How to Register?

To register and participant in one of the 2021 Virtual Youth Institutes, students research a global issue and write a five page paper under the supervision of a teacher or mentor (using the downloadable guidelines above).

Ninth through twelfth grade students in the 2021/22 school year are eligible to participate.

Registration opens on: March 1st, 2021

Registration and paper submission due online by: April 15th, 2021.

For more information please contact the World Food Prize Youth Programs at:youthprograms@worldfoodprize.org

Further opportunities for participants:

Borlaug-Ruan International Internships
An eight-week hands-on experience for high school students to work with world-renowned scientists and policymakers at leading research centers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Borlaug-Ruan Interns get a firsthand view of pressing food security and nutritional problems in poverty-stricken areas and take part in groundbreaking research.

Students selected as delegates for the Global Youth Institute are eligible to apply for the Borlaug Ruan International Internship.

USDA Wallace-Carver Fellowships
A paid summer research or policy placement for college students at a U.S. Department of Agriculture laboratory, agency, or at USDA headquarters in Washington D.C. Wallace-Carver Fellows analyze agricultural and economic policy; assist in the management of food, nutrition and rural development programs; and take part in groundbreaking field and laboratory-based research. Fellows travel to Washington DC as part of their fellowship for a week-long high-level leadership program hosted by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.