Global Food Security and Development students head to Brussels for the European Development Days joining key influencers from across the world

Students and staff on NTU’s Global Food Security and Development postgraduate course will be heading to Brussels next week for the European Development Days (EDD) joining key influencers in the sector from across the world.

Held on the 18– 19 June 2019, the event will welcome more than 8,000 speakers, heads of state, experts, key influencers and young leaders from all over the world.

The European Development Days are a large international forum where the most important figures of international cooperation and development share ideas and experiences to find innovative solutions to solving the world’s most pressing challenges. This year the theme of the EDD will be the fight against inequalities and their link with sustainable development.

Students from NTU’s Global Food Security and Development course were successful in their application to present a session, and have created, organised and are hosting brainstorming lab.

Called ‘Addressing inequality for the improvement of global food security’, the session will address the drivers of food poverty and insecurity. In groups participants will discuss how to challenge the inequalities that have led to a recent increase in global food security and hunger.

The session will be presented alongside the United Nations, World Bank, European Commission, heads of state and other global development agencies.

The NTU team consists of Xanthea Heynes, MSc Global Food Security and Development student (session organiser and speaker), NTU academics Roy Smith, (moderator), Andrew Telford (speaker), Heather Watkins (speaker) and MSc Global Food and Development students Clara Hagedorn, Pablo Garcia Campos, Katherine Hardy and Twanada Bake (table facilitators).

Speaking of the event, Xanthea Heynes said: “Roy Smith our tutor suggested we apply for EDD 2019 and I accepted the challenge.

“I submitted an application and was successful. Now the class, the tutors and myself are assisting with the organisation and delivery of the event.

“Organising this event and collaborating with students, tutors and other NTU departments has been a great personal development opportunity for me. It has enhanced my course experience due to the ability to present knowledge gained from my studies at a leading global event.

“As an MSc Global Food Security and Development postgraduate, being able to attend EDD 2019 where governments and development agencies including Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Food Programme will also be holding events enhances both my course and career opportunities.

“The support and encouragement from our course leader, Mofa Islam, as well as tutors Roy Smith and Julia Davies, has built my confidence to deliver this event successfully, as well as further opportunities going forwards."