The Borlaug Blog

As a World Food Prize Docent for over five years, I have been pleased to educate and inform the public about the history of the World Food Prize and the stories of our Laureates. I have been impacted by the words literally written on the walls of the Hall.

“Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world.” (Norman E. Borlaug)

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, food and agriculture humanitarianism face enormous challenges such as productivity, environmental protections, extreme weather conditions, limited land suitable to produce crops and changing dietary habits. In the future, innovative partnerships and collaborations are crucial to address global and individual needs.

Zero Hunger by 2030 is the world goal, and you can be a part of the future by understanding, learning, influencing public policy, donating or working directly with people. There is tremendous power when we all participate. Experts have noted that efforts to promote humanitarianism with children need to start at a young age with small projects that ask tough questions, keep it active and lead by example, with resources like these: www.fao.org/building-the-zerohunger-generation/en/.

According to the United Nations, the world population is expected to grow to almost 10 billion by 2050, increasing the demand for food by 50 percent. Please join the global World Food Day celebration on Tuesday, October 16, 2018, as we strive to end hunger through food and agriculture humanitarianism.

The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates contains remarkable examples of humanitarianism. We honor individuals recognized as great humanitarians for their achievements in food and agriculture. Their work advanced human well-being through raising crops and rearing animals, which provided the nourishment to maintain life. Guests from around the world tour the Hall and explore food and agriculture humanitarianism in the past and present.

Past

“Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply.” (Norman E. Borlaug)

The Hall displays the historical origins of food and agriculture. Names from ancient history through the early 20th century are displayed on the walls. A stained-glass globe depicts the original twelve areas of food and agriculture production. It begins with wheat growing in the Fertile Crescent in approximately 10,000 BCE. Educational exhibits display a timeline of agriculture beginning with Mesopotamia. The important role of the family and women in food and agriculture is emphasized. A fresco traces Des Moines’s history from prehistoric times. This rich history tells the stories of the first humanitarians on our globe. Keeping in mind that "Man seems to insist on ignoring the lessons available from history" (Norman E. Borlaug), we move to the present.

Present

“Everything else can wait, agriculture can’t.” (Norman E. Borlaug)

The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates honors the humanitarianism of Norman E. Borlaug, who developed a pest-resistant ‘miracle wheat’ and sparked the Green Revolution. Later, he founded the World Food Prize to advance the human condition by improving the quality, quantity and availability of food.

The World Food Prize, awarded annually since 1987, recognizes Laureates’ humanitarian contributions in animal science, aquaculture, food technology, food safety, infrastructure, emergency relief, nutrition, health, plant pathology, crop protection, plant science, seed science, policy, research, extension, poverty alleviation, hunger, soil science, water, and conservation. Each Laureate has a plaque, book and exhibit celebrating their achievements.

The World Food Prize Hall docents welcome you to tour food and agriculture history in the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates. You may also tour the Hall virtually with the President of the World Food Prize, an outstanding humanitarian himself, Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn at www.halloflaureates.org. This site contains information on Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, Hall renovation, artwork, the garden and interactive exhibits.