Iowa State University students showcase agrifood system solutions at FAO

Students from Iowa State University (ISU) recently showcased their research on solutions for challenges in agrifood systems at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome. This opportunity to develop and share their work with FAO’s professional staff was made possible through the ISU Dean’s Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program, an initiative designed to equip 8 to 12 undergraduate students annually with leadership and research skills tailored for real-world challenges. 

The partnership between Iowa State University and FAO, which began in 2009, allows students to collaborate directly with FAO’s technical experts on diverse research topics and to gain insights into operational programs. This spring, four students from the 2024 cohort partnered with Carlo Bravi and Amol Jadhav at the FAO Investment Center on adopting digital agriculture. Another four students worked with Patrizia Fracassi and TiKian Seow in the Food and Nutrition Division, examining the role of camelids, specifically camel milk, in addressing food and nutrition challenges. 

In Rome, the students spent the final month of their coursework working from ISU's College of Design facility, built in the 1500s and located in the heart of the city. On June 6, they presented their findings to FAO colleagues and Iowa State University leadership, engaging in discussions and receiving feedback. 

Dan Robison, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University, expressed pride in the students' accomplishments, noting, "In Rome, FAO is an incredible partner with much more potential to engage with. We can be proud of our students there this summer (and those who have traveled there during the past 15 years). With FAO technical representatives, the student tackled two challenging topics and performed in outstanding ways. I was there to see their final presentations to FAO technical staff and leadership and via video link to others around the world." 

Jocelyn Brown Hall, Director of the FAO Liaison Office for North America, highlighted the collaboration's significance, stating, "This partnership underscores the importance of bridging academic research with practical solutions, fostering meaningful contributions from youth to global agrifood systems and advancing sustainable development goals." 

The experience not only provided hands-on experience for the students but also strengthened the university's longstanding relationship with FAO, continuing to enrich academic research with practical, impactful outcomes. 

FAO supports the engagement of the world’s youth in science and innovation and recognizes their immense potential in transforming global agrifood systems and helping accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-31 places youth, gender, and inclusion as cross-cutting themes for its programme of work.