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Iowa High School Students Explore Global Career Paths in Science at Second Annual World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute

The World Food Prize Foundation — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Ames, Iowa (April 29, 2013) – The World Food Prize today connected the next generation of Iowa scientists, humanitarians and business executives with current leaders in these fields during a truly unique program: the World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute.

Over 300 high school students and teachers from across the state gathered on the Iowa State University campus for a day of events focused on inspiring youth to pursue educational and career opportunities in science, agriculture, engineering and other areas on a global level.

The day was filled with interactive workshops. Students discussed their own solutions for global problems ranging from water scarcity to malnutrition in countries from Brazil to Mauritania, and presented ideas for how to feed 9 billion global citizens by the year 2050. They also discovered how their interests, whether in science or the humanities, intersect with current research endeavors and ongoing efforts to solve global challenges through tours of labs and interactive activities with faculty.

Governor Terry Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa State University President Steven Leath, Dupont Pioneer President Paul Schickler and World Food Prize President Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn all spoke at the event, which was made possible by generous support from Paul and Claudia Schickler.

Rebecca Nellis, a student at Prairie Valley High School, attended both this year and last year – after last year’s experience, she and her 4-H club began a meal-packaging initiative, and she plans to study Food Chemistry and Human Nutrition in college.

“The Iowa Youth Institute on world hunger introduced me to people who have made a difference in the world and inspired me to do the same,” Nellis said. “I chose to take an independent studies class this year at Prairie Valley High School where I study food alternatives to supplement malnourished children. I would have never considered a career choice like this if it weren't for the program.”

Brad Horton, a biology teacher at Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School, has been involved with the World Food Prize youth programs for several years and participated today. “Students are usually shocked at the extent of poverty and hunger that they have largely never before considered,” Horton said. “By participating in the Youth Institutes, students feel like they are part of a larger group working toward the same goal of addressing food security.

“The youth institutes and internships our students have participated in have changed the direction of their lives. One student returned and held what has become an annual Hunger Banquet at our school. Over five years our school has raised $50,000 and packaged over 200,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger. A past intern is conducting research in college while another intern just accepted a position with Cargill.”

Gov. Branstad had lunch with students and also addressed them during a keynote speech. “Students, your participation today at this truly unique program the World Food Prize has created is a significant first step in shaping your future education, your careers, and your lives," Branstad said. "Dr. Borlaug, who founded the World Food Prize, was passionately committed to science and its potential to improve lives, produce more food, and eliminate poverty. His life is an inspiration for all of you here today – it’s up to you to set the course for the 21st century."

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds also spoke. "As the co-chair of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, I am thrilled to see this room so full of students and teachers, all here today to explore pathways toward careers that will solve the real-world challenges of the 21st century,” she said. “The World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute is STEM Education at its best, and the enthusiastic, talented students attending prove we have a promising future ahead.”

Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, president of the World Food Prize, explained that the primary goal of the event is to get students excited about the huge variety of career paths available to them, and to show them how they can make a difference in the world. “The goal of this program is to inspire the next generation of scientific and humanitarian heroes to help solve global issues, and we hope to eventually have every school in the state participate each year,” Quinn said.

Iowa State University President Steven Leath noted that science and technology can be developed but emphasized that we need the next generation of people to apply that science. “One of the most difficult challenges facing our world is producing and distributing enough food to feed the growing population. We must employ our most powerful resources to meet this challenge – our best science, our best technology, and our best prepared, best educated young folks. We need students – motivated, energetic, creative young people – who are committed to building a better future.”

More information is available online at www.worldfoodprize.org.
Press Contact: Megan Forgrave, Director of Communications, 515.229.1705 (cell)

BACKGROUND ON WORLD FOOD PRIZE YOUTH PROGRAMS

The World Food Prize holds statewide youth institutes in several states. The top students each year and others from around the country are invited to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in October, where they participate in other World Food Prize events such as the Borlaug Dialogue international symposium, which last year drew 1,400 people from 75 countries, and the Laureate Award Ceremony. They interact with experts, participate in hunger relief programs and activities, and present their research findings to peers and global leaders.

Over 20 students each year are accepted as Borlaug-Ruan International Interns, and are sent on all-expenses-paid, eight-week internships at research centers in Asia, Africa, Latin American and the Middle East. Finally, students who participate in the World Food Prize youth programs are also eligible to apply for Wallace-Carver internships with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

ABOUT THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE

The World Food Prize was founded in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, The World Food Prize has honored outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions to improving the quality, quantity or availability of food throughout the world. Laureates have been recognized from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, India, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and the United States. The World Food Prize Foundation is based in Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States.

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Media Advisory: 300 Iowa High School Students, Teachers Explore Science Pathways at Iowa Youth Institute Monday

The World Food Prize Foundation — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0600

(Des Moines, Iowa) April 25, 2013 -- The World Food Prize Foundation will connect students and teachers from across Iowa who are interested in science, agriculture and related fields to innovators and cutting-edge academic and career opportunities during the second annual World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute at Iowa State University on Monday, April 29. The daylong program engages students and challenges them to think globally and pursue opportunities in the sciences as they embark on their postsecondary studies and career paths.

In order to attend, each student writes a research paper about a key issue that impacts hunger in another a country, such as water scarcity or gender inequality. The students present their research and propose solutions to improve the situation, in small-group roundtable discussions facilitated by academic and industry leaders. Students and teachers participate in hands-on “immersion” activities in research facilities and labs at Iowa State University; interact with Iowa business and industry leaders, academics, legislative officials and their peers; and discover how educational and career paths in Iowa address global challenges. Participating teachers will gain professional development experience by participating in the events, garnering resources, and connecting with colleagues across disciplines.

Governor Terry Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa State University President Steven Leath, DuPont Pioneer President Paul Schickler and World Food Prize President Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn will speak at the event. The Iowa Youth Institute is made possible by the generous personal support of Paul and Claudia Schickler. The media is welcome to attend.

EVENT DETAILS:

WHEN: Monday, April 29.

9 a.m. Opening remarks by Steven Leath, President of ISU; Paul Schickler, President of Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business; and Amb. Kenneth Quinn, President of the World Food Prize (Great Hall, Memorial Union)

9:35 a.m. Hands-on activities (across campus); Student roundtable discussions (Memorial Union)

12:15 p.m. Students interact with industry and university experts during roundtable lunch (Memorial Union, Second Floor)

1 p.m. Keynote address by Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds

1:35 p.m. Hands-on activities (across campus); Student roundtable discussions (Memorial Union)

4 p.m. Closing ceremony (Great Hall, Memorial Union)

WHERE: Iowa State University’s Memorial Union, 2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa. Immersion activities will take place in labs, classrooms and other facilities across campus.

PRESS DETAILS: All events will be open to the media; due to space constraints, the events are closed to other members of the public. A press riser, audio feed and press tables will be provided in the Great Hall during remarks. Media should check in at the registration table.

SOCIAL MEDIA: @WorldFoodPrize will tweet the event, using hashtag #IYI2013.

MORE INFORMATION: More information is available online at www.worldfoodprize.org/iowayouth.

BACKGROUND: The World Food Prize holds statewide youth institutes in several states to inspire young people to continue the legacy of Dr. Norman Borlaug and fight hunger by pursuing educational and career paths in global agriculture. The top students each year and others from around the country are invited to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in October, where they participate in other World Food Prize events such as the Borlaug Dialogue international symposium, which last year drew 1,200 people from 65 countries, and the Laureate Award Ceremony. They interact with experts, participate in hunger relief programs and activities, and present their research findings to peers and global leaders. Over 20 students each year are accepted as Borlaug-Ruan International Interns, and are sent on all-expenses-paid, eight-week internships at research centers in Asia, Africa, Latin American and the Middle East. Finally, students who participate in the World Food Prize youth programs are also eligible to apply for Wallace-Carver internships with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

ABOUT THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE: The World Food Prize was founded in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, The World Food Prize has honored outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions to improving the quality, quantity or availability of food throughout the world. Laureates have been recognized from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, India, Israel, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and the United States. The World Food Prize Foundation is based in Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States.

Press Contact: Megan Forgrave, Director of Communications, 515-245-3794

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World Food Prize Announces 22 Students for Renowned International Internship

The World Food Prize Foundation — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Des Moines, Iowa (April 22, 2013) – Nearly 1 billion people go hungry every day. As the world faces difficult economic conditions, climate change, population growth, rising food prices and other global challenges, the next generation will be charged with continuing the battle against hunger and finding new solutions to feed the world.

This summer, an unprecedented number of high school students – 22 students from Iowa, California, Colorado, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio and Texas – have earned World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Internships and will delve into issues relating to hunger and poverty throughout the world during eight-week, all-expenses-paid summer internships at leading research centers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

The 22 students who have earned this internship will each travel to one of the following 14 countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey.

Each student will complete an eight-week assignment at an internationally renowned research center. This year, interns will be working with experts at locations including: the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, Philippines; Peking University in Beijing, China; the International Potato Center in Lima, Peru; the icipe-African Insect Science for Food and Health in Nairobi, Kenya; the International Livestock Research Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in Patancheru, India; among others.

“It is our hope that by engaging these young people in actual hunger-fighting research, they will be inspired to pursue academic and career paths in science, food, agricultural and natural resource disciplines, and thus prepared to become tomorrow’s innovative scientific and humanitarian leaders,” said Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn, president of the World Food Prize.

The late Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Norman E. Borlaug often said of the Borlaug-Ruan Internship program that it “is contributing importantly to spawning the agricultural leaders of the decades 2040-2050.”

The Borlaug-Ruan Internship is a unique program that allows student interns to participate in projects with distinguished researchers at leading agricultural research centers around the globe. While getting a firsthand view of real and pressing food security issues and nutrition problems in poverty-stricken areas, the students become an integral part of a project, spending time in the lab as well as days or weeks at a time in the field conducting research and interviews, and gathering data.

The interns are involved in global projects dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger such as: fisheries and aquaculture studies; biotechnology; micro-credit and the women’s self-help concept; the influence of education on household food security; and the calculation of Vitamin C concentration in numerous potato varieties.

A prerequisite for the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship is attending the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute, which occurs each October and exposes students to opportunities associated with careers in agricultural, natural resource, life sciences and affiliated fields. Youth Institute participants present essays and interact with World Food Prize Laureates and renowned experts to discuss issues relating to food security throughout the world.

A list of the 22 Borlaug-Ruan International Interns, including photos, can be found online at: www.worldfoodprize.org/2013interns.

For more information, contact Lisa Fleming, Director of Global Education Programs, 515.245.3795.

1995 Laureate Hans Herren to Give Lectures in Iowa

The World Food Prize Foundation — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Dr. Hans Herren, 1995 World Food Prize Laureate, will be in Iowa April 7 and 8 to deliver two public lectures on college campuses. Dr. Herren is president of the Millennium Institute, an international non-governmental organization that facilitates sustainable development. He won the 1995 World Food Prize for his work leading a biological pest control campaign in Africa, successfully fighting the cassava mealybug and averting a massive food shortage.

Dr. Herren will give the 2013 Shivvers Memorial Lecture at Iowa State University, sponsored by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. The event, free and open to the public, will take place Sunday, April 7, at 7 p.m. in the Sun Room in Memorial Union.

On Monday, April 8, Dr. Herren will speak at the University of Northern Iowa. His presentation, "Changing Course in Global Agriculture," will start at 7 p.m. in the Center for Energy & Environmental Education.

Read more about his visit in this Wallace's Farmer article here.

Special Events Commemorate the 99th Anniversary of Norman Borlaug?s Birth

The World Food Prize Foundation — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Des Moines, Iowa (March 21, 2013) – The World Food Prize Foundation invites the public to celebrate the 99th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Norman Borlaug, our state’s great hero who will soon be enshrined in the U.S. Capitol. Special events will celebrate the great scientist and humanitarian leader over the next few days, on March 23, 25, and 26.

Of special interest to the media will be a public talk at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 25, by visiting artist Benjamin Victor, who is sculpting the statue of Dr. Borlaug to be installed next year in the U.S. Capitol.

All events are free and open to the public and media, and will take place at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, 100 Locust Street, Des Moines.

EVENT DETAILS:

Saturday, March 23:

9 a.m.- 4 p.m. The Hall of Laureates will be open to the public during extended hours

Docents will be on hand to share stories about Dr. Borlaug’s life

The Food Bank of Iowa will collect food donations to combat hunger in Iowa

Children’s activities including a “Borlaug Scavenger Hunt” will be offered

11 a.m., 1 p.m. Film screenings of the documentary “Freedom from Famine: The Norman Borlaug Story”

Monday, March 25 (Borlaug's Birthday)

5 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Hall of Laureates will be open to the public during extended hours

Docents will be available to share stories about Dr. Borlaug’s life
The Food Bank of Iowa will collect food donations to combat hunger in Iowa

5 a.m. - 9 a.m. WHO Radio’s Van and Bonnie Show will broadcast live from the Hall of Laureates

11 a.m. - noon “Sculpting Iowa’s History: Birthday Cake and Q&A with Borlaug Sculptor Benjamin Victor and
World Food Prize President, Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn

10 a.m., 1 p.m. Film screenings of the documentary “Freedom from Famine: The Norman Borlaug Story”

Tuesday, March 26

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Hall of Laureates will be open to the public
Docents will be on hand to share stories about Dr. Borlaug’s life
The Food Bank of Iowa will collect food donations to combat hunger in Iowa

Website: More information is available online at www.worldfoodprize.org.

Social Media: Join the conversation and get updates on Twitter via @WorldFoodPrize and on Facebook via www.facebook.com/theworldfoodprize

Media Contact: Megan Forgrave, 515-245-3794

ABOUT THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE

The World Food Prize was founded in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, The World Food Prize has honored outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions to improving the quality, quantity or availability of food throughout the world. Laureates have been recognized from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Israel, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and the United States. The World Food Prize also annually hosts the Borlaug Dialogue international symposium and several youth programs aimed at inspiring the next generation of agricultural and humanitarian leaders. The World Food Prize Foundation is based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.

The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates Awarded Prestigious LEED Platinum Certification

The World Food Prize Foundation — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Click above for photos

Click above for video

Des Moines, Iowa (March 2, 2013) – The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates – a beautiful historic library renovated to become the hunger-fighting foundation’s global headquarters – has earned the highest possible rating by the U.S. Green Building Council for leadership in energy efficiency and environmental design, an incredibly difficult feat in a century-old building.

The award is significant, as only a handful of 19th-century buildings in the entire country are both on the National Register of Historic Places and have also earned a LEED Platinum rating; no other building in Iowa has ever held both designations. The project is a national model of success for transforming treasured, aging buildings into usable, energy-efficient, technology-friendly facilities.

“This project presented the unique challenge of meshing historic preservation with green energy, and in the beginning, it was thought virtually impossible to attain LEED Platinum,” said Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, president of the World Food Prize. “The World Food Prize’s core mission involves making the most of our limited natural resources to feed a growing global population, so it was important to us to model sustainability in our new headquarters. We’re proud that we’ve transformed this historic landmark into a hall that can now be used to host significant events such as the visit last year of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, the official reception during the Iowa Caucuses, our own annual international conferences, and many more.”

During the $30 million renovation of one of Iowa’s architectural treasures, leaders of the World Food Prize Foundation worked closely with architects from RDG Planning & Design and landscape architects from Hoerr Schaudt, as well as engineers from HR Green and the leaders of Neumann Brothers, Inc. to aggressively pursue the highest possible level of energy conservation, while honoring the historic integrity of this cultural landmark.

“Pursuing LEED certification on building projects today is nearly routine, but to achieve a Platinum certification remains simply remarkable,” said Doug Hoerr of Hoerr Schaudt. “It requires tremendous commitment by an institution and the skilled leadership of a well-coordinated and creative design team. Years from now, the Hall of Laureates and Garden will still be a model for integrating the highest levels of sustainable design with enduring quality and beauty.”

"At the outset of this project, we thought getting LEED Silver would be a huge achievement,” said Marshall Linn, President and CEO of Neumann Brothers, Inc., which has worked on several historic buildings. “Surpassing Gold and earning Platinum was the result of an extraordinary team effort, which was driven by the World Food Prize leadership. We are honored to be part of this historic achievement. "

Key features and achievements in the green renovation process include:

Procuring 90 of the highest efficiency solar panels available, which are placed on the roof in a way that cannot be seen, so they do not detract from the overall historic appearance of the building;
Drilling 102 geothermal wells in the garden to help heat and cool the building using the Earth’s energy, each of which goes more than 200 feet deep in the ground;
Creating an 8,000-gallon cistern to collect storm-water run-off, which was installed under the new grand east staircase, to provide a gray-water system for the building and the garden’s highly efficient irrigation system;
Procuring over 20 percent of construction and renovation materials from within 500 miles of the project, which included harvesting matching stone from an abandoned railroad bridge because the original quarry is now a state park, as well as using recycled materials in the metal fence and repurposed granite in the curbing and planting circles;
Installing concrete paving with a very high light reflectivity index; and
Adding bicycle storage and a shower space, as well as preferred parking for low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles.

"Making a 19th century designed building that is on the National Register of Historic Places while achieving LEED Platinum was a huge challenge that was conquered by the design team,” said Scott Allen of RDG. “The Hall of Laureates is both a magnificent rehabilitation/restoration project and a model for future energy efficiency in historic buildings."

The building was designed in the late 1800s as part of the City Beautiful architectural movement and its cornerstone was laid in 1900. In 1903, the doors to the Des Moines Public Library opened for the first time. Over a century later, after the library relocated to a new building 10 blocks away, the World Food Prize Foundation stepped in to rescue it and began a $30 million restoration. It reopened in October 2011 as the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, in honor of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and the organization’s founder, of whom it is said saved over 1 billion lives with his agricultural innovations.

The World Food Prize will host both public and private events in the coming months to celebrate its designation as a LEED Platinum historic building. Going forward, the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates will serve as a world-class museum to recognize great achievements in agriculture and fighting hunger; a convocation center at which to hold events during the World Food Prize International Symposium -- the Borlaug Dialogue; a home for the expanding World Food Prize youth programs, which aim to inspire the next generation of scientific and humanitarian leaders; an educational facility featuring interactive displays on hunger and food security; and a conference center and event space available to other groups and organizations for their meetings and other activities.

The World Food Prize will also open $1 million worth of interactive educational exhibits later this year, which will also be open to the public free of charge.

To learn more about the preservation, restoration and greening of this architectural treasure, please see the related fact sheet, photo slideshow, and video, at this link.

ABOUT THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE

The World Food Prize was founded in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, the World Food Prize has honored outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions to improving the quality, quantity or availability of food throughout the world. Laureates have been recognized from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, India, Israel, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and the United States. The World Food Prize Foundation is based in Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States.

U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for
our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 167,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 100,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED rating systems, comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.

By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

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For more information, contact Megan Forgrave, Director of Communications, at 515-229-1705.

World Food Prize's Keegan Kautzky Named 40 Under 40

The World Food Prize Foundation — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600

From: Business Record

Age 31 | Director of national education programs, The World Food Prize Foundation

Keegan Kautzky took some advice from Norman Borlaug about 13 years ago, and he hasn’t had a lot of sleep since.

The run-up to events at the World Food Prize and meeting deadlines for its various education programs means little time for sleep. But Kautzky seems little intimidated. In fact, when he talks about the foundation’s mission of feeding the world’s hungry, he is fresh and full of enthusiasm.

“We always hear from people how we changed their life. That is why we don’t get tired; we don’t get worn down,” Kautzky said.

Kautzky said he was a college student with an interest in political science and international affairs when he met Borlaug. The famed agronomist wanted to know what the young college student planned to do with his life. Kautzky replied that he was interested in philanthropy.

“He said you can’t make a difference in the world until you understand what is happening and understand the realities of what we are facing … until you know the depth, you can’t make a contribution,” Kautzky said. “At the end of it, he concluded that I wasn’t doing enough with my life.”

Borlaug told Kautzky to return to Iowa State University, change his major, and that the next time the two met, Borlaug wanted to know “how we are going to change the world.”

Borlaug also told Kautzky to go to South Africa, and he did, telling his mother and grandmother that he probably wouldn’t be returning to Iowa.

Then he received a phone call from Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation. He said that among Borlaug’s wishes for the foundation was to establish programs for high school and college students that would provide insights into poverty and hunger.

Five reasons he’s a 40:

• Led the World Food Prize Foundation’s national expansion.

• Leveraged a $750,000 program budget to attract $3 million in investments and matching funds for educational, research and science, technology, engineering and math training for high school students and teachers.

• Advised the National Council on Agricultural Education and the National FFA Organization in developing the first global strategy for agriculture education in the United States.

• Founder and chairman of Pages of Promise, a student-run charity that collects textbooks and other reading materials in the United States and distributes them in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Member of the Community Food Security Coalition.

Mentor: Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation

Fun fact: Kautzky planned to settle in South Africa.

Fresco Editorial in Science Magazine: The GMO Stalemate in Europe

The World Food Prize Foundation — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

From Science Magazine:

Related Video: Louise Fresco Addresses the 200th Anniversary of the Swedish Academy of Agricultural Sciences click here

Louise O. Fresco is a University Professor at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and an Honorary Professor at the Wageningen University and Research Center, the Netherlands. From 1996 to 2006, she served as Director of Research and Assistant Director General for Agriculture at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

E-mail: L.O.Fresco@uva.nl.

In September 2012, Europe was shocked by a publication, from Caen University in France, claiming that rats fed for 2 years with transgenic herbicide-resistant corn suffered from tumors. Even though the results have been criticized as flawed,* this research continues to be hailed as a confirmation that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are intrinsically dangerous.

The European Union (EU) differs from most of the world in its strong opposition to the use of genetic modification in agriculture. This position has worsened over the past 15 years. Field trials of new GM varieties have declined since the late 1990s. Nearly the entire EU commercial acreage of 100,000 ha consists of Bt corn, altered to express a toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis that is poisonous to insect pests; no other GM crop is allowed, apart from a high-starch potato. The corn is grown mostly in Spain, the only European country in the top 20 GM crop–growing countries worldwide. Once the European Food Safety Authority has produced a positive "final opinion" concerning the suitability of a new GM crop, final authorization must come from the European Commission (EC) and the member states that vote on approval. Over a dozen GM crops are stuck somewhere in this pipeline, some stalled for years, either because of the absence of support from a majority of member states or a failure of the EC to submit the case to a vote. Attempts to break the deadlock have included seeking an agreement that would allow an individual member state to block the cultivation of a particular GM crop on its own territory, based on safety issues, while allowing other EU nations to make a decision about growing it. Unfortunately, such efforts to ease acceptance of genetic modification have failed.

Respected independent institutions in Europe have provided evidence that GM crops can contribute to sustainable food production, especially when bred for insect and disease resistance, and that they do not carry risks beyond those of conventional varieties.† In 2011, the EC stated that the authorization procedure is dominated by preconceived ideas that prevent a fair revision of procedures to evaluate, approve, and control GMOs. However, in reaction to the flawed Caen study, the EC has opted for further delay, seeking more research on the long-term effects of GM feed. Yet 39 GM crops are currently allowed into the EU as food or feed, with many new requests expected. Europeans and their livestock are already consuming GM foods on a substantial scale.

Europe's lack of trust in GMOs reflects a wider distrust of science. Similar attitudes prevail concerning shale gas and nuclear power. The irony is that the generations who have benefited most from scientific progress are now the most suspicious of science. Europeans tend to romanticize the pre-modern past, unaware of the suffering and food scarcity associated with low crop yields. This European distrust of science affects R&D investments and may have harmful effects elsewhere. In Africa, European donors and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) unnecessarily delay the introduction of disease-resistant GM plants, such as the cassava needed to counteract the growing famine caused by brown streak virus.‡

A change in European attitudes will not arise quickly. Nevertheless, this year's negotiations for the renewal of the EU Common Agricultural Policy for 2014–2020 may provide an opportunity, if the revision of subsidies is coupled with support for innovations, including GMOs that promote sustainable agriculture. Only political courage, as shown last year by the British government's request for the EU to make it easier to grow GMOs, can break the ideological stalemate between NGOs, producers, consumers, and scientists.

↵* European Food Safety Authority, EFSA J. 10, 2986 (2012).

↵† Swiss National Research Program, Benefits and Risks of the Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Plants (2012), www.nfp59.ch/e_index.cfm; The Royal Society, Genetically Modified Plants for Food Use and Human Health—An Update (2002),http://royalsociety.org/uploadedFiles/Royal_Society_Content/policy/publications/2002/9960.pdf; A. C. Franke et al., Sustainability of Current GM Crop Cultivation (2012), http://edepot.wur.nl/166665.

↵‡ H. Vanderschuren et al., PLoS ONE 7, e45277 (2012).

Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn to Receive The Dr. David Jiajian Wang Award for Humanity

The World Food Prize Foundation — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Des Moines, Iowa, February 17, 2013 – The Chinese Association of Iowa will present its highest honor, the Dr. David Jiajian Wang Award for Humanity, to Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn at 6:30 pm on February 25, 2013, at the Des Moines Embassy Club. The award was announced by the Chinese Association of Iowa’s 25 Years Celebration Committee.

“Ambassador Quinn is a perfect role model and a great inspiration for young people such as me – I had the pleasure of volunteering for the World Food Prize a couple years ago and I am extremely impressed by Ambassador Quinn’s leadership style,” said Li Zhao, a Chinese Association of Iowa board member from Des Moines. “He is the embodiment of true humanitarianism. Continuing with Dr. Norman Borlaug’s vision and mission, his work at the World Food Prize is profoundly important for generations to come.”

On August 17, 2002, Dr. David Jiajian Wang, a native of China’s Hainan Island and a dentist, graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and sacrificed his life when he tried to save a boy at Lake Panorama, Panora. Five years after David Wang’s sacrificed his life for others, the Chinese Association of Iowa established the David Jiajian Wang Award for Humanity to honor his great achievement and sacrifice for State of Iowa communities. Since then, the association has selected individuals or groups among the top echelon of extraordinary contributors to society in our generation to recognize their distinguished humanity impact to the State of Iowa. Honorees include former Governor of Iowa Robert Ray.

Dr. Quinn, former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, has served as president of the World Food Prize Foundation since January 2000. Under Dr. Quinn’s direction, the stature of the annual $250,000 World Food Prize award has helped significantly expand the size and scope of World Food Day, the World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony, the “Borlaug Dialogue” international symposium and the Global Youth Institute.

Prior to his work at the World Food Prize Foundation, Quinn served at the State Department for 32 years in the Foreign Service. He served in such positions as a rural development advisor in the Mekong Delta, on the National Security Council staff at the White House and as director of Iowa SHARES, the humanitarian campaign that sent Iowa doctors, nurses, medical supplies and food to starving Cambodian refugees. He is one of the most decorated Foreign Service officers of his generation, recognized for the important role he’s played in humanitarian endeavors.

About Chinese Association of Iowa(CAI): Established in 1987, CAI is a community-based, member-focused, and non-profit organization. CAI represents the business, economic and community development of Iowa's young, strong and influential Chinese American community. CAI has made great strides in representing Chinese American. It aims to promote cultural diversity and enrichment in the local community. www.iowachinese.org

Chinese Association of Iowa

For interview please contact Li Zhao at 515.282.9988 or email at li@chinaiowa.com

Foundation President?s Statement of the Passing of World Food Prize Laureate Dr. Nevin Scrimshaw

The World Food Prize Foundation — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

"The entire World Food Prize family joins in expressing its deepest condolences to the family of our 1991 Laureate, Dr. Nevin Scrimshaw on his passing on February 8," said Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation.

In his long career dedicated to combating the “hidden hunger” of malnutrition, Dr. Scrimshaw made substantial improvements in the lives of millions throughout the world and profoundly shaped the field of international nutrition. His revolutionary achievements in fighting protein, iodine, and iron deficiencies, which spanned nearly seven decades and extended to Latin America and Asia, included the development and application of innovative nutritional supplements to effectively treat child malnutrition and the diseases of kwashiorkor and endemic goiter. Dr. Scrimshaw's work in educating generations of scientists, training local public health workers in developing countries, and building support for continued advances in food quality provide a marvelous legacy that will carry forward his monumental life-saving accomplishments.

Ambassador Quinn concluded that Dr. Scrimshaw was one of the true pioneers of what has been the called “the single greatest period of food production and hunger reduction in all human history.”