On 29 August 2025, the Geneva Trade Platform (GTP), in collaboration with the WTO Secretariat and CropLife International, hosted a virtual policy hackathon for students passionate about food security, innovation, and international trade.

The competition, convened through the Beyond Trade Network community—GTP’s global hub of trade professionals—challenged students to propose actionable ideas for  how international trade can better underpin resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food systems.

The response was overwhelming: 58 teams from across the world signed up. After an intense round of evaluations, 16 were shortlisted and, ultimately, 3 finalists emerged with creative, high-potential proposals to tackle one of the most urgent global challenges.

Now, the countdown is on. 

As we gear up for Geneva Trade Week 2025, GTP is preparing to showcase the innovativeness of these student teams on the big stage. On 16 September 2025, the WTO Director-General will deliver keynote remarks before the three finalists present their ideas to a high-level jury of Ambassadors from across multilateral Geneva and a winner is announced.

To stay updated on the winning team, check out the WTO’s YouTube channel on 16 September 2025 at 14:00 CEST.