25th Anniversary Public Events
World Food Prize Week, Oct. 10-16, 2011
World Food Prize Week, Oct. 10-16, 2011
The following is a schedule of events open to all Iowans during the week of events, Oct. 10-16, 2011. Join the discussion on food security and ending hunger and poverty worldwide. Click on the links below to learn more.
ALL WEEK: World Food Prize Lecture Series
Past World Food Prize laureates and other experts will speak at college campuses across Iowa and Minnesota. Speakers include 2002 Laureate Pedro Sanchez, who will speak at the 10th Annual Borlaug Memorial Lecture at Iowa State University, Former President of Mozambique, H.E. Joaquim Chissano, who will speak at Drake University, and many more, covering a variety of topics.
The World Food Prize lecture series offers audiences throughout Iowa the opportunity to engage with its message of improving the quality, quantity, and availability of food throughout the world. All lectures are free and open to the public. For a complete listing of lecture
events, click here.
TUESDAY, OCT. 11: The Iowa Hunger Summit 
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., The Des Moines Marriott Downtown
The Iowa Hunger Summit, celebrating its 5th anniversary this year, seeks to gather leaders from across the state representing community organizations, businesses, governmental bodies, social agencies, churches and religious communities, schools and universities, and other groups that lead or participate in projects to confront hunger. This grassroots event is free and open to the public.
The Iowa Hunger Summit includes a full day of speakers, breakout sessions, and the annual Hunger Luncheon, which features only foods used in hunger relief efforts. We will also share this year’s data collected on Iowans’ contributions in the battle to end hunger: money raised, volunteer hours worked, and pounds of food donated.
For more details, including reporting and registration forms, click here.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12: The Tokyo String Quartet
7:30 p.m., The Temple for Performing Arts
The Tokyo String Quartet, widely acclaimed as the best string quartet in the world, will perform a concert, as the World Food Prize's gift to the community. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Temple for Performing Arts, 1011 Locust Street, Des Moines. The event will be free and open to the public.
As a courtesy, we request that people planning to attend send an RSVP to concert@worldfoodprize.org. Seating is open; there are no reserved seats. However, your RSVP does allow us to accommodate our audience better. Doors will open at 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY- FRIDAY, OCT. 12-14: The Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium 
Registration Required. Some events will be webcast from the Des Moines Marriott Downtown.
The 2011 "Borlaug Dialogue" international symposium in Des Moines, Iowa, will focus on the theme, “The Next Generation: Confronting the Hunger Challenges of Tomorrow.” It will bring over 1,000 visitors from over 65 countries to Des Moines to address cutting-edge issues in food security and nutrition. Speakers this year will include:
- Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the World Food Program, which is currently leading hunger-fighting efforts in the Horn of Africa
- A panel of CEOs from major agribusiness companies: Deere, Dupont, Monsanto and ADM
- A panel of African leaders including two former presidents
- The government perspective from several international ministers of agriculture
- Howard Buffett, President of Howard G. Buffett Foundation
- Researchers and non-profit leaders from around the globe
Registration is required. The agenda and additional details can be found at this link.
Thursday, Oct 13: The World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony
7 p.m. Invitation Required. The ceremony will be available for viewing on Iowa Public Television and via webcast.
The World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony is held in the magnificent Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines, Iowa. The ceremony rivals that of the Nobel Prize, drawing over 800 honored guests. Each year, world-class performers take the stage to honor the World Food Prize Laureates, and the event is televised and webcast live. This year's World Food Prize will be awarded to John Agyekum Kufuor, former president of Ghana, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former president of Brazil.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, OCT. 15-16: Hall of Laureates Public Open House 
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Sunday: Noon to 4 p.m.
The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, 100 Locust Street.
The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates will welcome community members for the first time since its $29.8 millon renovation and restoration during a Public Open House on Oct. 15 and 16.
Docents will be on hand to share the stories of the artwork depicting Iowa’s humanitarian and agricultural history, as well as the work of laureates worldwide, and to lead visitors as
they admire the restored architecture and new green energy features of the former
Des Moines Public Library building, which has now become a new educational center and
the headquarters of the World Food Prize Foundation. Interactive educational exhibits
will be installed in Summer 2012.
For more information about the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, please click here.