Bayer and the Belgian young farmers associations Groene Kring and Fédération des Jeunes Agriculteurs want young thought-leaders from around the world to apply to attend the third Global Youth Agriculture Summit scheduled Oct. 9-13, 2017 in Brussels.

At the summit, about 100 selected young delegates from around the world will share ideas, develop solutions and engage in an open discussion on one of the world’s most challenging questions: How do we sustainably feed a hungry planet?

To apply, people aged 18 to 25 can submit an essay on the underlying causes of food insecurity and the effect it can have on a growing population. The essay question is based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Ability to demonstrate original ideas and passion to help shape the future will be the key selection criteria for the Youth Ag-Summit. Essay applications are accepted online until Jan. 13, 2017.

The summit’s long-term goal is to inspire delegates to not just think, but to act. Action is clearly needed to improve young people’s knowledge about agriculture, since many young people are disconnected from farming and give little thought to where their food comes from. That is why Bayer initiated a major study in 2015 to assess young people’s agricultural literacy in eleven countries.

“Bayer is committed to encouraging young people to learn about agriculture and to inspire the next generation of ag visionaries. With initiatives like the 2017 Youth Ag-Summit, agricultural scholarships and experimental learning at our student labs and online, we want to encourage young people to learn more about sustainable agriculture and food supply whereby the vital role of science and innovation is highlighted,” says Bernd Naaf, head of business affairs and communications and labor director at Bayer.