A record turnout of high school students attended the 9th annual New Jersey Youth Institute on March 7 at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS). This event, a partnership with the World Food Prize Foundation engages students in considering critical issues of global food security. A 37 percent increase in attendance from last year, 183 students from across the New York/New Jersey region presented their research to a panel of judges; these students earn the designation of Borlaug Scholars and some of them will be chosen to participate as New Jersey delegates in the World Food Prize event in Iowa in October.
“I’m so thrilled to see you culminate all the work you’re doing, meet with experts and colleagues from across the university and several industries,” Serafina Smith, assistant dean at SEBS, told the audience gathered at the Busch Student Center. “They’re going to share more about their experiences, give you feedback, and encourage you to continue propelling forward, and to focus on these issues so you can make the world a better place.”
“With everything that’s going on in the world, this is such a beautiful moment to see all of your faces, to read your papers. The work you’re doing is really meaningful, not just because food security is critically important but because food systems connect all of us, and food systems require lots of collaboration, cooperation, and integration,” said RCEI affiliate Dena Seidel, an award-winning science communicator and cultural anthropologist, in her keynote speech. “This is the beginning [of] an important journey that you’re on.”
Seidel demonstrated an example of the kind of work that advances food security across the world – the kind that students can strive to become a part of. Seidel presented a ten-minute documentary on the 2025 Food Systems Solutions initiative, in which researchers in the Rutgers Food System Science team partnered with the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Department of Resources and Development and Office of Trade, funded by the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, to help FSM reduce its reliance on imported processed food by strengthening local food production.
Students engaged
Attendees were highly engaged with the World Food Prize staff, SEBS judges, and one another. Enthusiastic conversations were had throughout the room as students shared ideas informed by their research. All participants earned recognition as a Borlaug Scholar and learned how to qualify for experiential internships. As Borlaug Scholars, named for the Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, students join a network of young leaders dedicated to addressing food security challenges and gain opportunities to participate in exclusive internships and mentorship programs.
“At SEBS, we are committed to developing future leaders who can tackle the world’s most pressing environmental and food security challenges,” said Dean Julie Traxler, a SEBS dean and judge at the event. “The New Jersey Youth Institute embodies this mission by empowering students to think critically about global food systems, conduct meaningful research, and engage with experts who can help shape their academic and professional journeys. Seeing these young scholars present their work reinforces the importance of fostering the next generation of changemakers in agriculture, sustainability, and beyond.”
“This helps me get a lot of insight about other countries and other approaches. It shows me how other groups are affected by so many issues that impact their food security and how we can better benefit from hearing each other’s ideas,” said Analee, a junior at Payne Tech in Irvington, who is originally from Guyana and presented a paper on malnutrition in Iran.
“We’re so used to scrolling social media,” said Dhruv, a freshman at Holmdel High School who presented research on dietary diseases in Australia. “But when you get to hear different perspectives in person, it opens up ideas of what I can do to help.”
“The New Jersey Youth Institute is a really impactful way to help students share their ideas,” said Jon Wogman, Director of Global Youth Programs and Partnerships at the World Food Prize Foundation, who delivered the event’s closing address. His organization partners with universities to host 36 youth initiatives across the world like this one.
Said Wogman, “Young people want to make a meaningful impact in the world, and we believe that it’s critical to equip them with skills and knowledge to solve critical challenges in agriculture and food scarcity.”
SEBS and the World Food Prize Foundation will continue hosting the New Jersey Youth Institute for years to come, serving as a launchpad to leadership for young food security changemakers.
A version of the article was originally published by the SEBS/NJAES Newsroom.