World Food Prize, USDA form relationship

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer and World Food Prize President Kenneth Quinn sign Memorandum of Understanding

November 3, 2008 - Following U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer's address (READ IT HERE), he and Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundatin, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing that in coming years USDA and the World Food Prize will build on and expand their ongoing partnership in support of mutual goals to improve food security and nutrition globally. The signing was formally witnessed by USDA Under Secretary Gale Buchanan, along with other USDA and U.S. government officials and the World Food Prize Laureates.

"We follow powerful world-changing precedents: Dr. Borlaug, Senators Dole and McGovern. We must continue honor their legacy by finding new ways to harness our agriculture productivity to feed a hungry world," said Secretary Schafer.

"Toward that end, we’re formalizing not only the relationship between the World Food Prize Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture but our shared commitment to science and research and providing a nutritious and sustainable food supply for people the world over. We’re going to sign this document, but, it’s words. It doesn’t matter unless we put it into action. And that’s our call today."