The Summit is themed Feeding a Hungry Planet and takes place in Canberra, Australia on 24-28 August 2015.
"We nearly received 2,000 essays from around the world which signals a strong interest in the issue of feeding a hungry planet. The quality of the essays was outstanding and the challenges and solutions identified highlight that opportunities like the Youth Ag-Summit provide a great platform to continue the discussions," said Georgie Aley, Chair of Future Farmers Network Australia. "We look forward to welcoming the delegates to Australia in August along with our partner Bayer CropScience in the delivery of the event."
Candidates were invited to apply between October 2014 and January 2015 by submitting a 1,500 word essay, outlining their position and ideas on the underlying causes of food insecurity and its effect on a growing population. A total of 1,932 essays from 87 countries were submitted - an outstanding result which shows the passion and spirit of young people for food and farming.
"We believe there is a need for young leaders to be engaged in finding sustainable agricultural solutions to the growing global need for safe and nutritious food. The Youth Ag-Summit is an opportunity to broaden the perspectives from others around the world. It will also enable young leaders to further grow personally and develop their knowledge", stressed Liam Condon, CEO Bayer CropScience.
Essays were evaluated by a diverse range of qualified and experienced industry professionals and scored fairly against their unique ideas. Showcasing a range of insightful perspectives on food insecurity around the world, candidates tackled topics including food wastage, local produce, education and awareness of agricultural practices - all of which will contribute to the conference agenda.
Delegates and 33 accompanying mentors will meet in Canberra to network, hear from guest speakers and participate in debates, discussions, group work and industry tours. The purpose of the Summit is to generate innovative, sustainable and actionable solutions which will be driven by their leadership.
During the Summit, the delegates identify, connect and create ideas to progress agriculture around the world. This collaborative approach aims to leave them with actionable ideas they take back to their home countries to embed into their personal operations and careers.
The delegates are from the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA and Vietnam.
South Africa will be represented by:
Visit the website to meet the delegates and for more information on the Youth Ag-Summit.
