120 youth from 24 countries come to Calgary to solve global hunger

OTTAWA & CALGARY, July 29, 2013 /CNW/ - In less than 25 days over 120 young people from around the world will gather in Calgary, Alberta for a week-long summit to tackle the issue of feeding a hungry planet.

The first global Youth Ag-Summit, sponsored by 4-H Canada and Bayer CropScience, will assemble young delegates (18 to 25 years old) from 24 countries to 'come to the table' to share their ideas and develop a lasting action plan.

"We are very excited to host this world-class event," says Shannon Benner, CEO of 4-H Canada. "This is a living legacy in celebration of our 100^th anniversary and a cornerstone to what we stand for - 'Learn to Do by Doing.'  We hope the week of learning and building an international dialogue will secure lasting solutions to a global issue: feeding a projected 9 billion mouths by 2050."

The 120 delegates and 25 mentors will listen to guest speakers; participate in debates, discussions, group work, and tours; and network - all with the purpose of generating innovative, sustainable and actionable solutions that will be driven by their leadership.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," explains Kamel Beliazi, president and CEO of Bayer CropScience Inc., the title sponsor of the summit. "We are very proud to have had the global network of offices to help facilitate bringing these bright minds to Calgary. While the future of agriculture looks bright there are looming issues to be faced, such as climate change, population growth, energy demands and the growing demand for high quality, healthy and affordable food. We need new and fresh thinking to solve these problems - the future relies on these young minds."

Official Welcome Ceremony
Date:	Tuesday, August 20^th, 2013
Location:	1410 Olympic Way SE Calgary, Alberta
Time:	8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Global Youth Ag-Summit
Date:	Tuesday, August 20^th - Saturday, August 24^th, 2013
Location:	Delta Bow Valley Ballroom 209 Fourth Avenue Southeast Calgary, Alberta

About 4-H Canada
4-H is one of Canada's longest-running and most respected youth-serving organizations helping young Canadians to "Learn to Do by Doing" in a safe environment. With more than 24,000 members and 7,500 volunteer leaders, the 4-H community has extended beyond its rural roots and offers clubs for a diverse range of interests and skills across the country. Provided with tools and guidance, 4-H members work individually and with others to reach their goals. This unique combination of group-based learning and personal interests is what makes the 4-H experience exciting and memorable for everyone involved. Through this process, we are creating a 4-H culture of skilled, responsible and confident leaders that are committed to positively impacting their communities across Canada. At a national program level, members have the chance to travel nationally and internationally, and participate in leadership conferences and seminars.

To learn more about 4-H Canada visit: www.4-h-canada.ca

About Bayer Crop Science
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. This year the company looks back on 150 years of working to fulfill its mission "Bayer: Science For A Better Life." Bayer CropScience, the subgroup of Bayer AG responsible for the agricultural business, has annual sales of EUR 8,383 million (2012) and is one of the world's leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company offers an outstanding range of products including high value seeds, innovative crop protection solutions based on chemical and biological modes of action as well as an extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture. In the area of non-agricultural applications, Bayer CropScience has a broad portfolio of products and services to control pests from home and garden to forestry applications. The company has a global workforce of 20,800 and is represented in more than 120 countries.

Further information on Bayer CropScience Canada is available at: www.bayercropscience.ca

 

 

 

SOURCE: 4-H Canada

For media access to the summit or to arrange an interview please contact:

Elaine Pyper
4-H Canada
[email protected]
Office: [phone] xt. 29

Komie Hossini
Marketing Engagement Specialist
Bayer CropScience
Office: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
[email protected]