Global Challenge
In short
Global Challenge- Audience: senior students in secondary education (HAVO/VWO)
- Registration deadline: 10 December 2025
- Cost: free of charge
Join the World Food Prize Foundation Global Challenge with students from all over the world! Wageningen Youth Institute invites you to write a short paper on a topic of your choice about feeding the world and to discuss it during the final at Wageningen Campus. Join us for a chance to win a trip to a World Food event in Rome or the USA!
Verder naar
What are you going to do?
The Global Challenge essay is written in eight steps. You choose a country other than the one you live in and research what life is like for a typical family in that country. You choose a topic that is relevant to that country and analyse its impact on food security. You investigate solutions and recommendations. You then write an essay* in English, register for the Wageningen Youth Institute and submit your essay. On the final day, you will be invited to present your essay to experts from the field.
*All submitted essays will be checked for plagiarism.
Wageningen Youth Institute finale at Wageningen Campus!
After submitting your Global Challenge essay, you will take part in round-table discussions with fellow students and experts from the field, such as World Food Prize winners and university professors. At this event, one student will be selected to attend a World Food event in Rome or the United States, with all expenses paid by WUR! So you could win a truly inspiring trip!
Why participate?
- You can make a real impact and contribute ideas for a better world.
- You will learn skills such as debating and presenting, which will be very useful at school and beyond.
- You will meet and advise policymakers, entrepreneurs and scientists.
- You will become part of the Wageningen Youth Institute, where you will form special friendships and build a network that could be very useful in your future career.
- You will have the chance to win a trip to a World Food event in Rome or the United States.
- After participating, you will be an official Borlaug Scholar and can apply for the World Food Prize Foundation Borlaug-Ruan International Internships.
Masterclasses
The kick-off takes place during the first meeting. You will get to know each other, learn about the Global Challenge assignment, and participate in the “World Food Simulation” workshop.
During the second meeting, you will meet international students from WUR. The students will talk about the country in which they grew up, and that information will hopefully help you choose a country and topic for your essay. Which country you choose is up to you. It may also be a country other than those presented during the masterclass.
*This meeting can also be attended online.
During this masterclass, you will be given a tour of the WUR greenhouses to see what research is being conducted there, which will hopefully inspire you for your essay. You will also attend a lecture on how to write a good essay.
After the masterclasses, you will continue your research and write your essay. The deadline for submission is Monday 2 March 2026 at 13:00. The round table discussions, the finale of the Wageningen Youth Institute, will take place on Wednesday 15 April 2026.
Join us in solving the global food problem
What would you do if you were the boss of the world? Help solve the global food crisis by participating in the Wageningen Youth Institute's Global Challenge.
Participate in the Global Challenge 2025-2026 masterclass
You can register using the button.
Questions?
Would you like to know more or do you have a question about the Global Challenge? Please contact us!
Wageningen Pre-University
Ruben van Meurs
Agenda
Date
09:30 - 16:00
Thu 8 January 2026
09:30 - 14:00
Tue 3 February 2026
09:30 - 16:00
Organisational unit
Volg Wageningen Pre-University op social media
Blijf op de hoogte en volg alle activiteiten en verhalen van onze studenten.