How my passion for food security led me to the World Food Forum in Rome
By Taylor Thigpen
After months of emails, obtaining security clearance and filling out paperwork, I officially accepted my invitation to represent the United States at the World Food Forum in Rome, Italy. On October 13th, I boarded a plane from South Bend to Rome, a country I had never been to. I did not speak the language and knew nobody, but I had one simple goal: contributing my voice to help build a more food-secure world.
The United Nations shares that over 700 million people around the globe suffer from food insecurity, yet at the same time the amount of food waste continues to rise around the globe. I have always been passionate about addressing the inequalities in our society and have worked on several projects geared toward ending food insecurity and food waste. One example is the “share table” concept I developed at a young age. It began in public schools in Clay County, Florida, where I designated a table where students could put leftover, sanitary foods for other students to take home. I later connected schools with organizations that provided grants for refrigerators, and transportation equipment, and other supplies needed to preserve food.
As this idea began to take off across Florida, I had to challenge and address our state's food safety laws. I even spoke to the Florida Senate about the change needed for our schools’ food programs.
The World Food Forum brought together leaders and government officials from over 100 countries to promote “good food for all, today and tomorrow.” The event took place in the heart of Rome, at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. As I arrived, I was blown away by the diversity of flags and stories represented all across the building. I was a part of a small cohort representing North America and focused in particular on representing the work of the U.S Department of Agriculture and the 4-H program.
In addition to my role at the World Food Forum, I work directly with the United States 4-H Board of Trustees, continuing to build programs for 6.5 million youth, preparing them to address food security and serve as leaders in their communities. The 4-H network’s mission of youth development is extremely important to me, as I personally have benefited from the program's offerings and experienced its impact on young people during my past role as state president of Florida 4-H, which reaches more than 200,000 youth.
At the World Food Forum I spoke as a representative of the United States about my work running a social venture, my experience leading a prominent youth development program and the importance of preparing young people to be leaders and address issues related to agriculture and food security. Food security is directly related to national security and it is important to create opportunities for diverse voices on topics including nutrition, food waste and hunger. One of the biggest highlights of the World Food Forum was meeting a diverse group of leaders who are changing our world for the better, including the U.S ambassador to Rome, the U.S. Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues, and the Prime Minister of Thailand, all of whom discussed their new initiatives for moving countries forward for building sustainable food productions.
I was excited to discuss Notre Dame at the conference, especially my fellow students' work abroad, Notre Dame's sustainability efforts such as the Grind2energy project, collaborations with South Bend nonprofit organizations and the Keough School’s mission of integral human development — upholding the dignity of each person and the whole person. Now back at Notre Dame, I look forward to promoting sustainability and reducing food waste in our community and continuing to learn through my global affairs major.
When I wasn’t attending the World Food Forum I spent some time seeing the sights of Rome, learning about architecture and history, visiting the Vatican and trying new foods — especially tiramisu! I highly recommend leaving the Notre Dame “bubble” to take advantage of the opportunities offered at the Keough School and beyond.
Originally published by keough.nd.edu on November 12, 2024.
atLatest Research
- New global tool measures climate resilience at the city levelJakarta, Indonesia, faces a paradox. Its economy and population are soaring, but the city itself is sinking. Excessive groundwater use is causing land subsidence of up to ten inches annually. Experts warn that by 2050, the subsidence, combined with rising sea levels and extreme weather, could leave a third of the city underwater. In response, the Indonesian government is weighing plans to relocate the capital at an estimated cost of $35 billion.
- Join the South Bend - Elkhart Manufacturing Accelerator program’s second cohort: Surface Finishing Cobot SystemLowering operating costs, enhancing worker safety and improving throughput without compromising quality are just some of the benefits the South Bend-Elkhart Manufacturing Accelerator’s Surface Finishing Cobots cohort is seeking to provide area companies. The cohort, hosted by University of Notre Dame’s…
- Democracy Initiative awards 40 Democracy Catalyst Grants to projects across campusThe University of Notre Dame’s Democracy Initiative has announced a new round of multi-year investments that will support research and education projects led by Notre Dame faculty and students and convenings that will…
- Notre Dame recognized as a top graduate school for aspiring entrepreneursCurrent ESTEEM program student Sam Kibirige works with 3D printers in the IDEA…
- Student research strengthens State Department’s global conflict prevention workUndergraduate and graduate students at the Keough School are conducting research that will inform policymakers working on global conflict prevention work, thanks to a partnership with the U.S. Department of State.
- Notre Dame Law School’s Global Human Rights Clinic aids in the liberation of Ukrainian priestsNotre Dame Law School’s Global Human Rights Clinic helped secure the release of two Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church priests, Fr. Bohdan Geleta and Fr. Ivan Levytskyi, from Russian captivity on Friday, June 28. The Ukrainian priests began their ministry in Berdiansk in 2019. After the full-scale…