The World Food Forum Youth Food Lab North America at Penn State

Welcome to the Youth Food Lab North America at Penn State, hosted in collaboration with the World Food Forum (WFF)'s Global Youth Action Initiative! This consortium of innovators, companies, researchers, educators, and other professionals is coming together to empower young professionals to make a scalable impact in the areas of global food security and climate action. Housed at Penn State but in partnership with the WFF's global network of Youth Food Labs, this program aims to address the critical challenge of the innovation "valley of death" by equipping entrepreneurs with the resources and mentorship necessary to scale and derisk the most promising early-stage innovations.

The WFF is an open and inclusive global platform that drives action to transform agrifood systems through the power of youth, science and innovation, and investment. Bringing together all stakeholders, it serves as a dynamic space for turning ideas into actions, scaling solutions, and forging synergistic partnerships toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It was launched in 2021 by the Youth Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the WFF's Global Youth Action Initiative is now facilitated by FAO's Office of Youth and Women.

Our Mission

The Youth Food Lab is founded on the belief that the future of global food security hinges on the ingenuity and dedication of innovators and entrepreneurs, including the young professionals poised to lead our global food system toward productivity and sustainability. Our mission encompasses several core objectives:

Support Innovation

We provide entrepreneurs, innovators, and young professionals with access to support, mentorship, and resources to foster the scalable impact of groundbreaking solutions in Global Food Security and Climate Action.

Foster Collaboration

By creating a dynamic and interdisciplinary Global Food Security and Climate Innovation consortium, we help support a pipeline of educators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators working together at the intersection of discovery and practice.

Impact at Scale

We actively support innovators in the scaling of marketable solutions, ensuring that successful projects can be implemented on a global scale to make a significant impact on food security worldwide.

How It Works

The Youth Food Lab at Penn State convenes stakeholders around a comprehensive suite of programs and resources designed to bridge the innovation gap and promote the scalability of impactful solutions:

Mentorship Program

Our mentorship program pairs young professional innovators with experts from industry, government, and nonprofit sectors. These mentors provide guidance, support, and insights, helping innovators navigate the complexities of bringing technologies to market.

Access to Pilot-Scale Facilities and Resources

Select innovators will leverage world-class facilities and experts at Penn State to assist them through pilot-scale production of new technologies. Where Penn State does not have the required facilities, Youth Food Lab staff will assist innovators in finding industry collaborators to partner for scaling and derisking efforts.

Education and Pipeline Development

Roundtable events and professional development programs will be offered to support a pipeline of agrifood system and climate innovations, with an emphasis on benefits to the Global South. These events are designed to connect stakeholders—-innovators, educators, government, industry, and nonprofit partners —to facilitate a meaningful and ongoing exchange of expertise, resources, and opportunities.

Networking

Participants will gain access to a global network of professionals and organizations dedicated to advancing food security and climate innovation. This network facilitates collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of best practices.

The Nexus of Research, Innovation, and Application

The Youth Food Lab at Penn State is uniquely positioned at the intersection of research, innovation, and application. This strategic positioning allows us to leverage the extensive research capabilities of Penn State and the practical expertise of our industry, government, and nonprofit partners for scalable impact. This effort, which was first announced in October 2024 at the World Food Forum's Flagship Event in Rome, is in a build phase and founding partners are being sought to help shape the consortium.

If you are a company, innovator, producer, ag educator, or other professional with an interest in the global food system, please connect with us and consider becoming part of a community dedicated to creating a sustainable future with good food for all. Questions and inquiries are invited to be directed to Maria Spencer, John and Patty Warehime Entrepreneur in Residence (mtk15@psu.edu), or Amy Bubb, Program Coordinator (aep5073@psu.edu).