Colorful Post-it notes offer suggestions for addressing the challenge's main questions: how to protect farmland and maintain sustainable production and how to clearly define property rights to ensure farmer autonomy and integrity.

Tu Dam Le (left), a student in the urban and regional planning program, and Midhat Zehra, an undergraduate psychology student, are deep in discussion.

Pavani Ram, director of the Community of Excellence in Global Health Equity and associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health, makes a point during the discussion. Ram organized the program for this year's challenge.

Hannah Stokes-Ramos (seated) discusses potential emerging problems with others in her discussion group.

Samina Raja, associate professor of urban and regional planning, addresses the group. Raja, Global Health Equity co-lead, also leads the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab in the School of Architecture and Planning.

A discussion group tackles the question of how to involve smallholder farmers — those who farm on fewer than 2 acres of land.

James Jensen (center, with microphone), professor of environmental engineering, speaks to the group. To his right is Korydon Smith, Global Health Equity associate director.

The Global Innovation Challenge included students from UB and other U.S. and international universities across all majors — from anthropology and architecture, to English and engineering, political science to public health, and at all levels.