{"id":1849,"date":"2024-12-09T14:27:28","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T21:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/food\/?page_id=1849"},"modified":"2026-03-25T13:55:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T20:55:53","slug":"model-usda","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/food\/model-usda\/","title":{"rendered":"Model USDA"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Model USDA<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Model USDA is a multi-day simulation for college students in the USDA NextGen<\/a> program. Launched in 2025 by the ASU Swette Center, this conference gives students a unique opportunity to step into the shoes of federal food policy decision-makers and stakeholders.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Inspired by Model United Nations and Model Congress, Model USDA is designed to engage, educate, and empower the next generation of leaders in food and agriculture policy. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Model USDA 2026<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Swette Center welcomed nearly 200 students from 31 colleges and universities to the second annual Model USDA. The conference was held at the ASU Tempe Campus from Friday, January 30 to Sunday, February 1, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading up to the conference, students were given a role and divided into six groups. Each group was assigned a policy scenario, which was their focus throughout the three days of Model USDA. The scenarios were based on real-world food and agriculture challenges, and roles ranged from USDA officials and nonprofit advocates to scientists, educators, and industry leaders. In their roles, students debated, negotiated, and co-created policy solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIt turned out better than I imagined,\u201d said Kathleen Merrigan, executive director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems within the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and the mastermind behind Model USDA. \u201cStudents told me the experience left them wanting a career in food policy \u2014 that\u2019s a big win.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>  Read the ASU News article<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n
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Welcome address<\/span> from ASU President Crow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Michael M. Crow, the 16th president of Arizona State University, welcomed students to Model USDA 2026 by sharing his vision for the conference, along with a brief overview of the importance of agriculture in U.S. history and the USDA’s role in ensuring a healthy, safe and secure food supply for years to come.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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