First virtual Iowa Youth Institute launched

The World Food Prize Foundation recently hosted its ninth annual Iowa Youth Institute featuring the participation of 264 students and 110 teachers from 93 Iowa high schools. This virtual, daylong event was the first of its kind for the IYI, supported by over 90 experts from across Iowa. 

Each year, the World Food Prize Youth Institutes convene high school students, teachers and experts to explore and solve local, national and global hunger and food security issues. In order to be a part of the Iowa Youth Institute, students research and write a paper on a global challenge related to hunger and food insecurity. Currently, 25 states, the Netherlands and Honduras host Youth Institutes, where students can be selected to serve as delegates at the Global Youth Institute as part of October’s Borlaug International Dialogue. 

As the world faces the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation shifted to a virtual platform, in order to make the institutes more accessible online. The Foundation is committed to continuing to offer its educational programs to more than 10,000 students this year. 

This one-day event is offered at no cost to teachers or students. More details are available at www.worldfoodprize.org/iowayouth.