Agenda - The World Food Prize - Improving the Quality, Quantity and Availability of Food in the World

A Root Awakening
March 25, 2025 | 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. EDT
Willard InterContinental | Washington, D.C.

8 a.m. - 9 a.m. | Breakfast and Registration

9 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. | Welcome Remarks

9:10 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. | Announcement

9:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. | The Ultimate Prize: A Food-Secure Future

Facilitator: Cary Fowler | 2024 World Food Prize Laureate
Martin Chalfie | 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Gebisa Ejeta | 2009 World Food Prize Laureate, Chair, World Food Prize Laureate Selection Committee and Distinguished Professor of Agronomy, Purdue University
John C. Mather | 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics and Senior Astrophysicist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Cynthia Rosenzweig | 2022 World Food Prize Laureate, Co-founder, AgMIP and Adjunct Senior Research Scientist, Columbia Climate School

10:20 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Bold Investments, Big Returns

Facilitator: Han Chen | 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer and Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ZeaKal
Sarah Dean | Global Public Policy Manager, John Deere
Simon Heck | Director General, International Potato Center (CIP) and Senior Director, CGIAR
Brooke Jamison | Chief, Americas Liaison Office, International Fund for Agricultural Development
Philip Pardey | Director, GEMS Informatics Center, University of Minnesota

11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Special Remarks

Hon. Amy Klobuchar | United States Senator and Ranking Member, Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Next Gen Minds, Next-Level Solutions

Facilitator: Thomas J. Vilsack | Chief Executive Officer, World Food Prize Foundation
Emma Barrett | World Food Prize Foundation Youth Programs Alumna and Undergraduate Student, Yale University
Chidimma Ifeh | Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research Fellow and Doctoral Student, Montana State University
Zachary Stewart | Vice President of Research and Chief Scientist, International Fertilizer Development Center
Grace Tiwari | Next Generation Agriculture Impact Network Ambassador and Doctoral Student, Pennsylvania State University

12:15 p.m. - 1 p.m. | Buffet Lunch

1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Special Remarks

Hon. Chuck Grassley | United States Senator, Senate President Pro Tempore and Member, Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. | Rapid Keynotes | Rooted in Research, Yielding Results

Introduction: Mashal Husain | President, World Food Prize Foundation
Han Chen | 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer and Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ZeaKal
Jennie Schmidt | Farmer, Schmidt Farms, Inc. and Member, Global Farmer Network
Myron E. Stine | President, Stine Seed Company
Amy Wu | Founder and Director, From Farms to Incubators

2:15 p.m. | Closing Remarks