New York Youth Institute: Hunger Fighters

“New York State is recognized for preparing the next generation of leaders in agricultural research or industry.” - Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, World Food Prize Chair

New York is an agricultural state and our students have good ideas about the future of our food supply and ways to combat world hunger.

The New York Youth Institute (NYYI), based at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, was founded in 2009 to advance youth leadership development and to inspire interest in agricultural careers among NYS high school students.  This educational outreach program is proving transformational for participating students.  Moreover, it is serving as a catalyst for high school teachers to integrate important topics related to food, agriculture, and the related life sciences into their instructional programs. 

Each year the NYYI invites NYS high school teachers to encourage students to prepare research-based papers on contemporary global food issues for presentation at a Cornell-hosted event.  The day-long event in April also includes small group discussions with other high schoolers, interactions with leaders in agricultural science, industry and policy, and tours of Agricultural and Life Sciences labs.  The top five student presenters, along with their teacher-mentors, are chosen to participate in the World Food Prize Symposium and the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa.

Few events in the world boast a more influential and globally representative assembly of agricultural scientists, policy makers, and industry leaders than the World Food Prize Symposium.  Coupling the NYYI with the World Food Prize Symposium/Global Youth Institute affords students the unique opportunity for meaningful engagement with global agricultural leaders and inspirational role models, including many past World Food Prize Laureates.   

The New York Youth Institute is at a critical point of ensuring the future funding of this educational and career development program. We need to send 10 students and mentors from NY State to the World Food Prize. The cost for each round-trip air ticket was $800 this year, so we are trying to raise at least $5,000 to match contributions from a couple of foundations to fully fund the trip. Please give whatever you can to send students and mentors to the World Food Prize, and inspire the next generation of leaders in the fight against hunger.