The World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute is a one-day event that gives high school students the opportunity to present research and recommendations on how to solve key global challenges.

World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute 4-H Youth Development Michigan State UniversityThe World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute (WFPMIYI) is a one-day event coordinated by Michigan State University (MSU) where youth:

  • Present research and recommendations on how to solve key global challenges in a short speech and small group discussions with MSU faculty, staff, students, peers, and other experts.
  • Connect with other student leaders from across Michigan to share ideas, identify solutions to these problems and build lasting friendships.
  • Interact with global leaders in science, agriculture, industry and policy.
  • Take part in educational sessions to explore current research and issues in food, agriculture, natural resources, international development and life sciences.
  • Meet innovative professionals, researchers, professors and college students working to end hunger and poverty and improve food security in Michigan and around the world.
Registration Is Open!
Registration is open until March 15, 2026 and can be completed using these forms:
  • Student Registration Form
    • This form is for students (in grades 7-12) to register to participate in the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute. Students may submit their written Global Challenge Paper within the Student Registration Form, or they may submit it separately using the Global Challenge Paper Upload Form. Students must register and submit their complete Global Challenge Paper by March 15 in order to participate. Optional student posters can be submitted using the Student Poster Upload Form 
  • Adult Registration Form
    • Teachers, mentors, parents, and other adults who will be attending the May 7 World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute as youth chaperones should complete an Adult Registration Form

2026 World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute

  • Event Date: May 7, 2026
  • Time: 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  • Location: The campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI or by participating virtually using Zoom.
  • Schedule: A draft schedule of the event is available to view online.  A final schedule will be emailed to those who register to participate.
  • Who can participate: 
    • Students who are in grades 7 through 12 during the 2025-2026 school year are eligible to register by submitting a three-to-five-page Global Challenge Paper.
    • Teachers, mentors, and other adults who assist students in completing their Global Challenge Papers are welcome to attend along with their student(s). Students and adults must complete a registration form in order to participate.
    • MSU Faculty, Staff, and Students and other Experts are invited to participate in the event as well. Those participating as event staff, volunteers, and experts serve in a variety of roles, including Roundtable Experts and Immersion Hosts.  
  • What happens at the event on May 7?

    • Students will provide a short overview on their research paper and recommendations. Each student will have 3-5 minutes to provide their research paper overview to a small group of peers and experts. Students will receive feedback and questions about their research from their peers and experts in their small discussion groups.  

      The top performing students will be considered as possible delegates to represent Michigan at the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa, October 2026.  The quality of student research papers and their participation in the May 7 event will be the primary measurements used to select potential World Food Prize Global Youth Institute delegates from Michigan.  Students selected as finalists to join Michigan's delegation to the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute will be invited to participate in a video conference interview with the WFPMIYI coordinators. Students from Michigan who selected to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute travel together as a group led by the WFPMIYI coordinators. Travel, lodging, meals, and other expenses for students to participate in the Global Youth Institute are arranged and paid for by Michigan State University and the World Food Prize Foundation.

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Global Challenge Paper Instructions:

Using the Global Challenge Paper Instructions, youth select a country (other than one they have lived in) and research 1 of 22 key factors that affect food security in that country (examples of key factors include plant science, water scarcity, dietary diseases, malnutrition or international trade). Each student writes a three-five page paper outlining their research findings, which include their recommendations for addressing challenges in their country of study. Additional resources can be found on the World Food Prize Foundation website, including examples of papers submitted by students in the past.

Optional Global Challenge Poster Instructions:

Students may choose to design and submit an Educational Poster in addition to their required research paper. An educational poster is optional for the WFPMIYI and a supplement for participants to use when presenting/discussing an overview of their research paper during the event on May 7. Youth should refer to the WFPMIYI Educational Poster Guide for instructions to complete their posters. Completing a research poster does not replace the requirement of submitting a research paper in order to participate in the event. Posters must be submitted electronically by April 15, 2026 using the Student Poster Upload Form. 

Resources for students, teachers, and adult mentors: 

The World Food Prize Research Guide is a free online resource created by Suzanne Teghtmeyer (MSU Agriculture, Plant Science, and Reference Librarian) which serves as a general guide to finding openly accessible information on topics associated with the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute. The resource guide provides valuable information and resources to assist students in writing their research paper.

Teachers and adult mentors who would like to support the participation of youth in the WFPMIYI may be interested in using our SPIN Club Agenda/Teaching Outline. Teachers and mentors also may choose to use the Hunger Fights Unite! Simulation Lesson plan resources to facilitate an interactive group activity for youth to explore the topic of global food security. The Hunger Fighter Unite! lesson plan is a simulation style activity that blends youth leadership, cultural engagement, and career exploration to cultivate a deeper understanding of food and food security as youth take on one of the world's greatest challenges. 

Hunger Fighters Unite! Lesson Plan Resources:

The World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute meets a wide variety of educational standards and practices in multiple content areas. Read more about the ways the WFPMIYI is aligned with today's education standards here.

About the Global Youth Institute: Youth selected to be a Michigan delegate will join over 150 other outstanding high school students and mentors from across the United States and around the world for an exciting three-day program to interact with Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates and hundreds of global leaders from 75 countries attending the World Food Prize’s annual international symposium.

Accommodation, meal and program expenses at the three-day Global Youth Institute event are provided by the World Food Prize Foundation for the selected Michigan youth delegates. Youth will be accompanied to Iowa for this prestigious leadership opportunity by Michigan 4-H staff members who will serve as chaperones. Round trip travel to Iowa will be arranged and provided for students selected to participate in the Global Youth Institute by Michigan 4-H. Other than minor costs, this amazing follow-up opportunity to the WFPMYI is fully funded for the top scoring youth.

Sponsors:

For more information on how to get involved with the 2026 Michigan Youth Institute, contact:

Brian Wibby, M.S.S.A.
Extension Educator
Email: wibby@msu.edu
Office phone: (906) 439-5065

or

Debra Barrett,
Senior Extension Educator
Email: smithde6@msu.edu
Office phone: (517) 355-3855