Seven youth selected to represent Michigan at the 2026 World Food Prize Global Youth Institute
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EmailMichigan youth will join leaders from around the world this October to share their solutions to food security and other grand global challenges.
Michigan will be represented at the 2026 World Food Prize Global Youth Institute (GYI) by seven outstanding youth. The delegates were chosen from among the 78 youth who participated in the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute, which was held May 7, on the campus of Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, MI. At the GYI, Michigan’s delegates will join hundreds of other youth and some of the world’s leading experts on food security to learn about our planet’s most critical issues and to share ideas for addressing grand global challenges related to food, agriculture, health, climate and sustainability.
At the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute, students in grades 7-12 from across Michigan presented overviews of research papers they had written about an international country of their choice and a global challenge affecting food security or food access in their chosen country. In their research papers, youth examined the food security status of a typical family living in the country they selected, explained how the global challenge they selected impacted food security in their chosen country, and recommended a variety of potential solutions to the challenges faced by people in their country of study. Students selected one global challenge to focus on in their research papers from 22 topic options. The global challenges to choose from included topics such as water scarcity, renewable energy, climate change, sustainable agriculture, malnutrition, human rights, education and foreign aid. A complete list of topics, and more information about the program, can be found on the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute website.
The 2026 World Food Prize GYI will be held October 20-22, in Des Moines, Iowa as part of the annual World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium and Laureate Award Ceremony. “The World Food Prize is the foremost international award recognizing the accomplishments of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity, or availability of food in the world,” according to the World Food Prize Foundation. Youth participating in the GYI will watch the awards ceremony and hear from Huub Lelieveld, a humanitarian and food safety expert from the Netherlands who will be receiving the 2026 World Food Prize “for marshaling a movement across 113 countries to deliver scientific evidence for modern regulations, legislation, and international standards that safeguard the world’s food supply.”
Michigan’s delegates will also participate in the Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium, known as the “Borlaug Dialogue.” Held each October in conjunction with the presentation of the World Food Prize, the ‘Borlaug Dialogue’, “is a three-day symposium that brings together international experts, policy leaders, business executives and farmers to address cutting-edge issues in global food security and nutrition,” according to the World Food Prize.
Michigan’s youth delegates will also present their research and proposed solutions to global challenges related to food security during roundtable discussions with peers and experts while attending the GYI. Michigan’s 2026 delegation to the World Food Prize GYI will include:
- Emily Brandy, a 12th grade student from Ionia County, will present her research on the topic of animal agriculture in Ethiopia.
- Jaden Corpron-Shive, a 12th grade student from Calhoun County, will present his research on the topic of poverty in Germany.
- Yuna Hahm, a 12th grade student from Oakland County, will present her research on the topic of fisheries and aquaculture in Egypt.
- Aahan Jain, a 10th grade student from Wayne County, will present his research on the topic of malnutrition in Ghana.
- Claudia Kremer, a 10th grade student from Saginaw County, will present her research on the topic of poverty in Lebanon.
- Nicklas Topping, a 10th grade student from Clinton County, will present his research on the topic of water ang sanitation in Bangladesh.
- Obadiah Xiong, a 12th grade student from Ingham County, will present his research on the topic of climate change in Madagascar.
The World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute is an annual Michigan State University precollege program that is coordinated by Michigan 4-H with support from the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan 4-H Foundation, MSU International Studies and Programs, Michigan State University Extension and the World Food Prize Foundation. MSU and the World Food Prize Foundation provide funding to cover all expenses, including transportation, lodging and meals for Michigan’s youth delegates who participate in the World Food Prize GYI.
The 2027 World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute is scheduled to be held on the campus of MSU in East Lansing, MI on May 13, 2027. Information on how to participate and register is available on the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute website.
