THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE GLOBAL CHALLENGE RESOURCES
What is the Global Challenge?
The World Food Prize Foundation’s Global Challenge curriculum is designed to empower high school students to explore, analyze and solve the world’s most pressing problems related to global food security and agriculture and sustainability issues.
To participate, a student must write a three- to five-page research paper on a country and a food-security-related topic of their choosing. Each student will then share this research at a World Food Prize Foundation Youth Institute.
The World Food Prize Foundation believes that elevating youth’s voices is crucial to creating a more food-secure and sustainable world, and we want to hear your solutions.
Below you will topics to research about and and resources that will help you research and write your paper:
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Utilizing plants to increase and improve food, nutrition, medicine, fibers, fuels and other products Examples: Research and breeding of improved plant varieties to increase crop yields, improve plant health and nutrition, resist diseases and pests, and improve adaptability to climate volatility |
The lack of available water resources to meet the demands within a region Examples: Reducing water usage, improving irrigation and agricultural practices, recycling wastewater, water pricing, desalination, protecting water rights, water harvesting, and improving conservation technologies |
Energy created from naturally occurring sources such as water, wind, solar and biofuels Examples: Clean energy technologies such as biodigesters; geothermal systems; cellulosic ethanol; biofuels from algae, switchgrass and other plants; biodiesel from grease, animal fat or plant oils; wind turbines; solar energy, hydroelectric power, etc. |
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Protect and improve the health, safety, and quality of livestock, poultry and fish Examples: Preventing and treating livestock and poultry diseases with improved management, investments in vaccine development, improved veterinary care, and proper application of medications to avoid antibiotic-resistance. |
Responding to significant changes in the Earth's climate and weather patterns Examples: Technologies, policies and practices that reduce the negative impact of erratic weather conditions, rising temperatures, flooding and drought, saltwater intrusion, shifting plant diseases, rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and support ecosystem and household resilience |
Best practices to grow food and fiber for long term environmental, economic and social success Examples: Improved agricultural practices (such as cover crops, integrated pest management, agroforestry, crop rotation, and reduced tillage) to combat erosion, desertification, and soil nutrient depletion; reduce pesticide and herbicide use; and minimize environmental degradation |
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Improving the care and breeding of livestock, poultry and fish Examples: Sustainable practices for raising livestock, poultry and fish, such as management intensive grazing, integrated livestock/poultry grazing, poultry/vegetable production systems, aquaculture and fish pond farming systems |
Food that is lost, spoiled or discarded in production post harvest, processing or consumption Examples: Reducing spoilage and improving the quality and shelf life of food products with improved storage, food preservation techniques and processing capacity; technologies and efforts to decrease insect and rodent damage; and changing human behavior to reduce waste |
Clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal to improve human hygiene and health Examples: Increasing and improving sanitation, hygiene education, access to safe drinkable water, and adequate toilets or pit latrines, to reduce the transmission of food and waterborne illness |
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Disease caused by unhealthy diets and a lack of exercise Examples: Addressing obesity, heart disease, diabetes, anemia, and other dietary diseases through nutrition education, access to nutritious foods, and healthy behavior (dietary diversification, food selection, portion-size control, exercise, etc.) |
Deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy, protein and nutrients Examples: Reducing micronutrient deficiencies (iron, vitamin A, iodine, zinc) and protein-energy malnutrition through improved access to nutritious food, exclusive breastfeeding, biofortification, food fortification, supplementation, school-feeding programs, nutrition education, emergency therapeutic feeding, etc. |
INFECTIOUS DISEASES Infections and illnesses that can be spread from one person to another, or between animals and humans Examples: Treated bed nets; antiretrovirals; improved access to healthcare, vaccines, contraception, and sexual and health education to prevent the spread of Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Guinea Worm, Schistosomiasis, Sleeping Sickness, and other diseases |
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The characteristics and movements of a population including urbanization, migration and growth Examples: Education and family planning, urban agriculture, refugee resettlement, non-refoulement, and other efforts to meet the needs of populations in transition |
Political, economic, environmental, or social disagreements, violence or armed conflict Examples: Indigenous rights, diplomatic efforts, negotiations, peacekeeping operations, truth and reconciliation committees, etc. to prevent and resolve conflicts |
Rights that all people are equally entitled to regardless of their nationality, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, language, etc Examples: Ending gender, cultural and economic discrimination; preventing human trafficking; and providing essential rights and freedoms to protect human dignity |
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The delivery of knowledge, skills, and information Examples: Improving education, training and extension by investing in vocational education, farmer field schools, educational resources, information communications technologies (ICT), etc. |
The implementation of policies, processes and structures that determine how power is distributed and shared Examples: Policies and programs to reduce corruption and improve accountability, transparency, responsiveness, rule of law, stability, equity and inclusiveness, empowerment, and broad-based participation |
The exchange of capital, goods, and services between countries Examples: Efforts to encourage economic cooperation, promote free and fair trade, improve market access, encourage fair labor standards, and the use of tariffs, subsidies, testing, labeling and licensing |
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Assistance given by one nation to another for humanitarian relief or development efforts Examples: Efforts to assist vulnerable populations, protect public health, and improve the effectiveness of humanitarian relief and food aid in famines, conflict zones and natural disaster |
The physical structures and facilities critical for the operation of a society Examples: Investments in roads and railways, power generation and household electrification, housing, internet, mobile technologies, etc. to improve access to markets, healthcare, and education |
PAPER WRITING RESOURCES
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Use the student paper packet as a guide to create an outline by answering the guided questions. Then, draft your paper using the outline you created. Be sure to follow the format requirements and recommended breakdowns. Proofread your paper to edit for sentence structure and proper grammar. Ask at least three other people to read your paper and give you feedback. |
Your bibliography page should include at least five sources with in-text citations. You can choose which style to use: MLA (Modern Language Association) or APA (American Psychological Association). Choose one style and use it consistently! Note: Wikipedia can be useful for initial searches but should never be used as a reference since it is not possible to evaluate the accuracy of the information of credibility of the author(s). |
Please note - your paper will be checked for plagiarism. Make sure you take the time to analyze and interpret the articles and information you read, and explain in your own voice. It's important to always be careful when sharing an idea or concept that is someone else's (even if you explain it in your own words), that you properly credit the original source. |
