Villanova Student To Represent U.S. At Agriculture Summit In Belgium

VILLANOVA, PA – Julie Greenwald, a Villanova University student, has been selected to represent the U.S. at an agricultural summit in Europe later this year, making her one of five millennials who will go to Belgium for the summit.

Greenwald will participate in the third Youth Ag-Summit in Brussels, Belgium from Oct. 9 to Oct. 13.

Greenwald, 20, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, will join a delegation of 100 people from 49 countries selected to participate in a week-long think-tank focused on identifying innovative, sustainable and actionable solutions to address the global food security challenge.

“I believe that nutritional, sustainably-produced food should be an unalienable right for all members of the global community,” Greenwald said in a statement. “Food insecurity is a local and, of course, a global issue which can only be truly resolved through global cooperation. In terms of environmental and social justice issues, now is a time when indifference is not good enough; inaction is irresponsible. I am hungry for change and for a better world. This type of hunger will not be satiated until no one is hungry.”

This year’s summit features the theme “Feeding a Hungry Planet” and aims to address the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals of ending hunger, achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. It is the summit that Bayer has offered to young people around the world.

Greenwald is pursuing a double major in environmental studies and cultural studies, with a minor in peace and justice from Villanova.

Greenwald has earned a 3.94 GPA, was on the Dean’s list for three consecutive terms and has raised more than $30,000 for the university.

This won't be her first trip to the low countries, as she spent five weeks living and working on organic farms in three Belgian cities this past summer.

Her agricultural career aspirations are guided by her belief that food security is a basic human right.

Field experience at home and abroad, coursework and her personal research have all inspired her to roll up her sleeves alongside her peers to discover solutions to one of the most complex problems of our time.

The chosen delegates will undertake group projects and participate in industry tours, as well as learn from expert guest speakers. Their mission is to come up with concrete new ideas that can drive agricultural progress across the globe and be put into practice back home.

To be considered for participation, delegates were required to submit essays on the topic of food insecurity, factoring in the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.

A total of 1,187 essays from 95 different countries were submitted, all of which were reviewed by a panel of industry experts, including six U.S. judges representing national youth leadership organizations such as the FFA and 4-H, academia, a former Youth Ag-Summit delegate, and Bayer.

Congratulations and good luck to you Julie!

Image via Villanova University