Students4Food is an interactive public event designed to spark dialogue and celebrate emerging academic voices in agrifood systems research. Selected students will deliver short, thought-provoking 10–15-minute presentations, tailored for a diverse, multidisciplinary audience. 

The event will be conducted in English and is open to the public. Participating universities are encouraged to promote the event within their networks. A registration link for people interested in attending will be available here [Insert Link].  

Participating universities are invited to submit a shortlist of up to three candidates by [TBC] to the following address:  [email protected]. 

Each candidate submission should include the following: 

• Full name 

• Age 

• Email address 

• Student profile — academic background, faculty, and current research focus or thesis topic 

• Proposed presentation title 

• Short video (max. 5 minutes) in which the student presents their chosen topic and explains its relevance to the WFF 2026 theme 

• A photo of the student (for use in communications and social media) 

The event is open to students, researchers, academics, and all those interested in agrifood systems from FAO Member Countries.

Apply to be a speaker via your institution until 14 September 2026! 

Applications will be reviewed by the Students4Food Jury, who will select five speakers based on the following criteria: 

• Relevance - How well the topic connects to the WFF 2026 theme, "Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow." 

• Originality - The degree to which the work demonstrates creative, solutions-oriented thinking 

• Communication - Clarity, engagement, and presentation skills as demonstrated in the submitted video 

• Diversity of perspectives - Breadth of topic coverage, disciplines, and speaker backgrounds

The Jury will be composed of distinguished representatives from the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels, the Benelux Union, and the UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC).

Students4Food is committed to an inclusive selection process that reflects gender balance, diversity of perspectives, and fair representation across participating universities. We particularly encourage applications from women and candidates from underrepresented communities (eg, Indigenous communities, persons with disabilities, students from developing countries, etc.). 

Each speaker will receive an official certificate of participation, co-issued by FAO and the Benelux Union, along with a Students4Food goodie bag. Their work will also gain broader exposure through dedicated promotion across FAO, Benelux Union, UNRIC, and WFF communication channels. 

In addition, the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels will facilitate introductions between speakers and relevant FAO colleagues, based on the thematic or regional focus of their presentations, offering a meaningful entry point into professional networks within the UN system.