Hon. Ted Menzies, Minister of State, Dr. Tom Thompson, President & CEO, Olds College, Hon. Verlyn Olson, AB Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Within the next 20 years the worlds population is expected to grow to 9 billion people.

This will lead to twice the demand for food around the world and young agriculture leaders are going to be tackling the important issue next year.

4-H Canada and Olds College are both celebrating their 100 year anniversaries in 2013 and Bayer CropScience is celebrating it's 150 year anniversary.  To celebrate these milestones, Olds College is hosting a global Youth Ag-Summit called "Feeding a Hungry Planet."

"Canada is an exporter of food to the people that need it and that is one of our biggest challenges. That and how do you store food? That's one of the biggest challenges in the developing world. They can grow food but they can't store it for more than a week," says Hon. Ted Menzies, Minister of State (Finance), Canada. "So those are some of the challenges I would like to see this forum come up with some innovative ideas on."

The event will give youth with different backgrounds and ideas, a chance to work together and take on the issue of world hunger. 


Rosie Templeton and Jacob Onyschuk, 4-H Premier's Award Winners and Dr. Tom Thompson, President & CEO, Olds College

"I think it's actually a great opportunity for those who don't necessarily have a background in agriculture. I myself didn't grow up on a farm and I've been introduced to agriculture at a later age," explains Jacob Onyschuk, 4-H Youth Ambassador. "I think this conference will be great opportunity for people to get involved and understand about feeding a hungry population."

"I think the huge thing about a youth targeted conference, is that we're getting people that are right on the cusp of their careers. They are ready to get out into agriculture and they probably have a specific passion," explains Rosie Templeton, 4-H Youth Ambassador. "They are in some section of agriculture where they know they can make a difference in feeding the world. So I think if we're are empowering youth, if we're teaching them they can make a difference, then there will be success in the future."

It's also a great opportunity for Olds College to have a chance to host an event like this.

"This is a major signature event in our centennial year. I'd go as far as to say that this is really a cornerstone of the year because it is dealing with such a major issue, and that is feeding a hungry planet," says Dr. H.J Tom Thompson, President of Olds College.

The Youth Ag-Summit will host 120 students from 18-25 years old. To participate in the summit, youth will have to write an essay on "Feeding a Hungry Planet" and the top essays will qualify them for a paid trip to the Youth Ag-Summit in Olds.