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2026 World Food Prize Foundation New York Youth Institute (NYYI)

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Dear Friends,

 

We’re excited to announce that the 2026 World Food Prize Foundation New York Youth Institute (NYYI) will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York! Please save the date and join us for this inspiring, day-long program.

 

Registration is now open on our website HERE, and the student Global Challenge Research Paper guide is available HERE. Teachers and other mentors are encouraged to share expected student numbers early to help with planning. All adult mentors must also register, even if not attending in person, so we have key contact information and can track who will be chaperoning. 

 

Due to limited capacity, if student registrations exceed the event’s limit, participation will be prioritized for:

 

  • Juniors and seniors

  • Students from underrepresented areas

  • Regional diversity across New York State

 

Students who are waitlisted for the in-person event will be encouraged to participate in one of the four 2026 World Food Prize Foundation Virtual Youth Institutes and will receive priority consideration for next year’s in-person event.

 

The NYYI brings together high school students, teachers and mentors, Cornell faculty, global leaders, and Cornell students to explore innovative solutions to critical global challenges. Participants will engage in research presentations, roundtable discussions, campus tours, and hands-on activities—a unique opportunity to connect with peers and experts alike.

 

Key deadlines:

 

  • Registration: February 6, 2026

  • Paper submissions: February 20, 2026

                   

Students who participate will earn Borlaug Scholar recognition, present their research and ideas, and engage with experts on pressing food and climate challenges, all while exploring Cornell’s iconic campus and learning about its cutting-edge research during afternoon tours. Teachers and other mentors play a key role in guiding students through research and preparation, supported by our detailed research paper guide.

 

For a glimpse of last year’s event, read about the 2025 NYYI here: New York Youth Institute Explores Global Solutions for Food Security. More information is available on our main webpage HERE, and please see the attached flyer for additional details. Feel free to share this opportunity widely!

 

We hope you will join us for this meaningful and unforgettable experience.

 

Kind regards,

Polly




© 2023 New York State 4-H Youth Development, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, Cornell University. All Rights Reserved. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation's Cooperative Extension System and USDA.

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Land Acknowledgement

Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' (the Cayuga Nation). The Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. We acknowledge the painful history of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' dispossession, and honor the ongoing connection of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' people, past and present, to these lands and waters.

This land acknowledgment has been reviewed and approved by the traditional Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' leadership. Learn more

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