World Food Prize Foundation

Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue

October 20-22, 2026
Des Moines, Iowa

Global Food Security Forum

The Dialogue

Surrounding the annual presentation of the World Food Prize is the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, a globally renowned high-level event focusing on cutting-edge issues in food security and agriculture.

Known as the “Borlaug Dialogue,” this three-day conference gathers world leaders and top experts in development, agriculture, economic policy, resource management and nutrition – all inspired by the historic legacy of Norman Borlaug and the achievements of the World Food Prize Laureates in fighting global hunger.

The Borlaug Dialogue’s unique “conversation” format allows this diverse array of eminent participants to engage ideas from various disciplines, learn from one another, enhance existing linkages, explore new partnerships and discuss strategies for action.

Participants consider pressing issues and trends in food and agriculture, including climate change, water security and natural resources; trade, market access, and rural development; technology and infrastructure; the role of gender in education and leadership; promoting human and animal health; and other critical topics.

The Borlaug Dialogue is complemented by side events, briefings and seminars organized by NGOs, agribusinesses, advocacy groups, public stakeholders and other institutions. The resulting full week of events attracts more than 1,500 attendees and participants each year representing more than 65 countries – and includes many of the top minds and most innovative actors in the international effort to end hunger in communities around the world.

The Borlaug Dialogue

Join Us in 2026

Hunger presses forward, extending its reach across global landscapes shaped by intensifying conflict, climate volatility and deepening inequality. From active war zones to fragile states destabilized by unrest, food systems are being strained at every level.

At the same time, fragmented governance and shifting public policies—often non-unifying and inconsistent across borders—undermine long-term progress and weaken coordinated responses. Trust in science and innovation wavers at the very moment when both are needed most. And yet, at no other point in history have we possessed the knowledge, tools and human capacity to nourish everyone. The paradox of the moment is unmistakable: abundance and scarcity now exist side by side. Possibility and collapse stand within reach of the same horizon.

Safe, nutritious and reliable food for all is not a given—it requires sustained commitment, adequate resources, cutting-edge innovation, resilient systems and real accountability. The 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue convenes under the theme Before Hunger Wins, marking a decisive moment for the future of global food security.

At the Borlaug Dialogue, the most critical conversations are taking place. Leaders and innovators are charting solutions, sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation of hunger fighters. It is where ideas become commitments and commitments become action.

Rooted in the legacy of Dr. Borlaug and the founding vision of the World Food Prize, the Borlaug Dialogue is not just a convening. It is a beacon, an inspiration to people who will bring arid lands to life, break cycles of hunger and poverty and beat down the barriers to our most basic need. In the words of Dr. Borlaug, “Food is the moral right of all who are born unto this world.”

This year honors the 40th anniversary of the World Food Prize. Forty years later, the work remains unfinished. The choices we make today will shape who eats, who is nourished and who thrives across the globe for generations. Before hunger wins, we must.