Global Committee on Food Security Formed at Calgary

As a result of the international Youth Ag Summit, hosted in Calgary, Alberta, a global committee on food security has been formed. The executive (pictured below) is comprised primarily of youth volunteers and will spear-head the continuation of the summit’s discussion around food security.

YAS 3: Executive board - Delta Bow Valley? Far left through the back row: Dave Rothwell, South Africa mentor; Jennifer Christie, Canada mentor; Casper Roxborough, Australia delegate; Lisa Anne Coetzee, South Africa delegate; Jacob Onyschuk, Canada delegate; Maike Thieman, Europe mentor; Georgie Allie, Australia mentor; Maria Pacheco, Mexico delegate; Jasmine Kaur, Asia delegate; Rebbeca Watkins, UK delegate; Haley Sater, US delegate.

YAS 3: Executive board – Delta Bow Valley? Far left through the back row: Dave Rothwell, South Africa mentor; Jennifer Christie, Canada mentor; Casper Roxborough, Australia delegate; Lisa Anne Coetzee, South Africa delegate; Jacob Onyschuk, Canada delegate; Maike Thieman, Europe mentor; Georgie Allie, Australia mentor; Maria Pacheco, Mexico delegate; Jasmine Kaur, Asia delegate; Rebbeca Watkins, UK delegate; Haley Sater, US delegate.

As a part of the Summit’s agenda, delegates and mentors were divided into eight groups, and given the task of discussing one of four main challenges in food security, as summarized from candidates’ essays and video submissions. The topics included:

  1. Consumer Awareness and Needs – Education behind food production and changing dietary needs
  2. Food Waste – Storage, distribution, processing, consumption
  3. Climate Change and Environmental Resources – Water, land and input usage
  4. Human Footprint  – Population grwoth, urbanization, government policies and trade

With the purpose of feeding a hungry planet, each group was expected to come up with a vision, strategy and rally cry to address the issue they selected to focus on. On Friday, the eight groups gave a ten minute presentation on their proposal. Then, after a short recess (and some delicious snacks), the delegation voted. This vote resulted in the adoption of the following vision:

To increase sustainable access to nutrient-dense food for women and children worldwide to alleviate global hunger.

After the introduction of the new executive on Saturday evening, Bayer CropScience Canada and 4-H Canada announced that they will each provide $20000 to help the executive begin in their work towards this vision.

And with all the energy and knowledge in that room, and on that committee, something tells me that though this may have been the first Youth Ag Summit, it won’t be the last…

For more of RealAgriculture’s coverage of the Youth Ag Summit, click here. 

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