World Food Prize Foundation
Celebrating 40 Years
OUR MISSION
To elevate innovations and inspire action to sustainably increase the quality, quantity, and availability of food for all
Born Here. Rooted Here. Inspiring the World from Here
The World Food Prize is celebrating 40 years of honoring the people who feed the world, and this milestone highlights its uniquely Iowa roots. Founded by Dr. Norman Borlaug, an Iowan whose innovations have saved more than a billion lives, the Prize is one-of-a-kind—just like Iowa itself, home to things the world cannot find anywhere else.
To mark this anniversary, the World Food Prize Foundation is asking supporters to donate $40 in honor of 40 years, joining a legacy of innovation, impact and hope. This campaign celebrates four decades of global leadership in food security while inviting everyone to be part of a uniquely Iowa story that continues to change the world.
January: Dr. George Washington Carver | Ames, Iowa
The first video in the One-of-a-Kind campaign highlights the legacy of Dr. George Washington Carver and Iowa State University. Carver’s pioneering work in agricultural science and sustainability exemplifies the kind of Iowa-rooted, globally relevant impact the campaign celebrates.
February: The Ruan Family | Beacon, Iowa
For decades, the Ruan family has been a steadfast partner of the World Food Prize—helping elevate Iowa as the Hunger-Fighting Capital of the World and supporting changemakers saving lives across the globe.
March: Peggy Whitson | Beaconsfield, Iowa
From Peggy Whitson, record-breaking astronaut from Beaconsfield, to the World Food Prize’s recognition of world-changing innovation from Des Moines—Iowa proves to be a place where history is made!
April: Bix Beiderbecke | Davenport, Iowa
A true innovator of jazz, Bix proved that creativity born in Iowa can travel far beyond its roots, bringing people together through a universal language of expression!
May: The Ice Cream Capital of the World | Le Mars, Iowa
From its deep agricultural roots to its global reputation for producing one of America’s favorite treats, Le Mars represents the innovation, community spirit and food heritage that make Iowa one of a kind.
June: Herbert Hoover | West Branch, Iowa
From a small Iowa town to a humanitarian legacy that touched millions around the world, Herbert Hoover reminds us that some things are uniquely Iowan. Long before serving as president, Hoover led unprecedented efforts to feed and support people facing famine and hardship across Europe, demonstrating the power of compassion, leadership and action.
July: Grant Wood | Eldon, Iowa
Few images are as recognizable as American Gothic, yet its roots are unmistakably Iowa. Painted by Iowa artist Grant Wood and inspired by a small white cottage in Eldon, the iconic work celebrates the resilience, character and spirit of rural America. Nearly a century later, it remains one of the world’s most recognizable works of art and a lasting symbol of Iowa’s cultural heritage.
August
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September
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