The Next Generation: Confronting the Hunger Challenges of Tomorrow
October 12-14, 2011 – Des Moines, Iowa – Des Moines Marriott Downtown Hotel
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THE NORMAN E. BORLAUG INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM is held each year in conjunction with the awarding of the World Food Prize.
This annual "Davos-type" dialogue brings together international experts and policy leaders to address cutting-edge issues in food security and nutrition. Through the International Symposium, known informally as the Borlaug Dialogue, the World Food Prize Foundation helps build alliances in the struggle against world hunger and malnutrition.
These efforts help to promote health, enhanced nutrition, and safety both at home and abroad with the first-ever conference to simultaneously address obesity and malnutrition and the first post-9/11 conference anywhere to address agroterrorism.
Inspired by The Importance that Nobel Laureate and World Food Prize founder Dr. Norman Borlaug placed on educating and developing the next generation of leaders in the fight against hunger, the 2011 Borlaug Dialogue international symposium will gather the top minds and foremost leaders in global agriculture, food and development this October in Des Moines. As the World Food Prize celebrates its 25th Anniversary of bringing hunger issues to the forefront, we will look ahead even further to discuss tomorrow's issues and challenges.
As global leaders and institutions look to improve the agricultural and development landscape of the future, we are faced with the pressing question of how to feed a projected population of 9 billion by 2050 while confronting a wide range of new agricultural, environmental, climate, health, geopolitical, economic and demographic challenges.
The "Next Generation" theme will ask several critical questions:
- What are the most pressing future challenges that the global community will face in fighting hunger and poverty?
- Who will be the next generation of leaders to confront such challenges and how do we best prepare and develop these leaders?
- What are the next generation of technologies, methodologies, models and solutions to overcome such challenges?
Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 12, this three-day dialogue will address the questions above by exploring the following:
- Empowering youth through education and economic opportunities
- The role of private investment in smallholder capital to spur innovation and entrepreneurship
- The coexistence of high-tech agriculture and agro-ecology in promoting sustainability
- New technologies and practices in improving agricultural ecosystems and environmental resource management
- Improving efficiencies along the agricultural value chain and its effect on development, nutrition and health
- Leveraging markets and trade on the macroeconomic level between high-income and developing countries
- Changing demographics and the impact of population and dietary shifts, urbanization and aging
- Maximizing the potential of women and girls in fighting hunger and poverty
- Enhancing communication and collaboration across sectors and among all stakeholders to increase awareness and participation at all levels of advocacy.
These and other critical issues will be explored through keynote presentations and lively and engaging "conversation" sessions that will feature the expertise and diverse perspectives of governmental leaders, policymakers, CEOs and executives from agribusiness and NGOs, scientific and academic experts, development leaders and young leaders from around the world.
Please watch for a full agenda following our June 21 Laureate Announcement Ceremony.