Five students who completed a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences program were among 210 high school students from around the world who attended the 25th Annual Global Youth Institute symposium hosted by The World Food Prize Foundation. The students discussed critical food security and agricultural issues with international experts.
The event was held from Oct. 17 to 20 in Des Moines, Iowa. Each student was tasked with researching a specific food security challenge in a developing country and proposing a solution. They presented their findings at the global symposium in a round-table format among experts and peers in conjunction with the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium. The annual symposium gathers the world’s foremost leaders in global food security.
Five students represented Florida at the symposium. These students were selected based on their successful research presentations at the Florida Youth Institute summer program hosted by the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) in partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The following Florida Youth Institute delegates attended the symposium:
Christian Bentrovato, Plant City, Florida
- Plant City High School
- Topic: Renewable energy in Haiti
Lily Gumbinner, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
- Topic: Conflict in Iraq
Samantha Rivera, Celebration, Florida
- Celebration High School
- Topic: Malnutrition in Kenya
Lauren Roberts, Trenton, Florida
- Trenton High School
- Topic: Beekeeping in Kenya
Holly Sims, Tallahassee, Florida
- Maclay School
- Topic: Malnutrition in Guatemala
“Developing young leaders in the areas of agriculture and related sciences who will help solve our world’s critical challenges related to food scarcity, human wellbeing and sustainable communities is the mission of CALS,” said CALS Dean Elaine Turner. “We are proud of these young scholars for their dedication to improving global food systems and quality of human life.”
Florida Global Youth Institute delegates had the opportunity to interact with World Food Prize laureates, hear from experts in global food security, take part in a meal packaging service project, and tour local facilities that address food and water issues.
Source: The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS)