Future food and environment in focus when high school students visited SLU

In the SLU Youth Institute programme, students take on a global challenge related to food security and write an essay with possible solutions. The solutions are then presented in roundtable discussions with experts at SLU. The purpose of the programme is to give young people an insight into food production, sustainable agriculture and the role of research in future societal challenges.

The days began with a warm welcome from coordinators and other representatives from SLU. This was followed by roundtable discussions where the students presented their essays to experts in the food and agriculture sector. The discussions were fruitful, with innovation, creativity and critical thinking at the centre of global issues around sustainable food systems.

In Uppsala, the students then got to dive into the world of bees. Through a visit to SLU's Center for Honeybee Research, they learned more about why pollinators are crucial for both ecosystems and our food supply. Researchers talked about ongoing research on bees and the impact of pollination. The students also had the chance to meet Zeb, an alumni of the SLU Youth Institute who got the opportunity to go to the Global Youth Institute, USA. Together with Rebecca Picard from the World Food Prize Foundation, they presented several exciting opportunities that are opening up for the students who participated in the roundtable discussions.

Two different programmes were offered in Alnarp. ​​One group of students visited the Food Lab, where they saw and tasted how raw materials can be processed into food. They also saw ongoing experiments on the effects of biochar on microorganisms in the soil and crops that are grown. The other group, who participated in the Inspirational Programme, visited the Alnarp Agroecology farm, a student-run farm. There they learned about sustainable farming in practice and how sustainable methods can be used on a larger scale. The inspirational programme was held by the student recruitment and focused on promoting SLU's educational programmes.

In Umeå, the forest awaited. Here, the students got to try out the so-called "forest box", an interactive activity that showed how many different products can be extracted from the forest – from building materials to household products and food. The focus was on innovation and sustainable use of forest resources. The students also got to meet SLU's vice-chancellor Maria-Knutson Wedel and listen to what alumni Maja had to say about her trip to the USA and the Global Youth Institute last fall.

The days ended with a ceremonial diploma presentation, where the students' efforts and commitment were recognised with applause.

SLU Youth Institute clearly shows how the university contributes to arousing interest in research and sustainability issues already in high school – and to creating meetings where future problem solvers can take their first steps. As an alumni of the programme, there are several opportunities to develop and learn more about global food systems. Among other things, students can apply for internships through the World Food Prize Foundation at various research centers around the world.