THE NEXT GENERATION: CONFRONTING THE HUNGER CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW

Global leaders, including several former presidents, CEOs of the world’s largest Fortune 500 food and agriculture companies, World Food Prize laureates and international policy experts, will come together October 12-14, 2011, for the 25th Anniversary World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium to address the world’s current food crises and future needs in feeding people around the globe.

The theme of this year’s symposium, known as the “Borlaug Dialogue,” challenges all stakeholders and decision-makers to think forward to The Next Generation: Confronting the Hunger Challenges of Tomorrow. This event, which has been called “the premier conference in the world on global agriculture,” will draw more than 1,000 international leaders to discuss solutions for providing food in the midst of challenges posed by political volatility, extreme weather, population growth and other factors.

“To mark the significant milestone of our 25th anniversary this year, we have gathered a hugely impressive array of speakers. We hope to fulfill Dr. Borlaug’s legacy through lively conversations that spark new ideas to address this most urgent matter of ending hunger in the world,” said Amb. Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize.

Featured speakers this year will include:

2011 World Food Prize Laureates John Agyekum Kufuor, the former president of Ghana, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former president of Brazil
Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, which is currently leading hunger-fighting efforts in the Horn of Africa
Former African presidents, including Joachim Chissano of Mozambique, Sir Dawda Jawara of The Gambia and Olesegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, speaking in an African leadership roundtable
The CEOs of many of the world’s major agribusiness companies: ADM, Deere & Co., Dupont, Monsanto, Novozymes and Syngenta
Several international agricultural ministers, speaking in a policy and government panel with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Jose Graziano da Silva, Director-General Elect of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Howard G. Buffett, President of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which is unveiling its first major advocacy report on hunger in Africa
Researchers and non-profit leaders from around the globe

Specific topics to be discussed in conversation sessions include the greening of agriculture, the role of the private sector in sustainable agriculture development, empowering youth leaders and entrepreneurs, the potential of women and girls in agriculture, improving efficiencies, the phosphate challenge, and enhancing communication and collaboration across all stakeholders. The event will take place at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown Hotel in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Borlaug Dialogue international symposium will take place in conjunction with the 2011 World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony, where we will pay tribute to two former presidents as the recipients of this year’s award: President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil.

In addition, the World Food Prize Foundation will unveil its new headquarters, the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, a magnificent historically restored building designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification for energy efficiency and resource conservation. The World Food Prize will also host the Iowa Hunger Summit, a free concert by the Tokyo String Quartet, a dozen lectures across the state, and will welcome the most promising students from across the country at the Global Youth Institute to engage them in hunger, food security and agriculture issues.