World Food Prize Foundation
2005 Borlaug Dialogue
October 18-19, 2001 | Des Moines, Iowa
The Dual Global Challenges of Malnutrition and Obesity
[ 2005 Symposium Brochure (PDF) ]
The 2005 World Food Prize International Symposium was held October 12-14, 2005 in Des Moines, Iowa.
The symposium, entitled “The Dual Global Challenges of Malnutrition and Obesity,” featured presentations by experts from around the globe.
Leading research scientists and medical professionals participated, as well as those at the forefront of setting the policy agenda on nutritional requirements.
The symposium was highlighted by the awarding of the $250,000 World Food Prize to Dr. Modadugu Gupta.
About the 2005 Symposium
Catherine Bertini, 2003 World Food Prize Laureate and Chair of the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition stated:
“The co-existence of underweight and overweight in an increasing number of developing country settings widens the scope of nutrition problems and poses one of the greatest challenges to nutritionists, health workers, and national policy-makers in this new millennium.”
Never has humanity seen such a rich variety of available food, yet millions lack the proper nourishment to assure a healthy life. While the number of hungry and undernourished has slightly decreased to 1.1 billion people, the number of overweight and overnourished has grown to 1.1 billion. Rather than eliminating malnutrition, the past century has witnessed its growth in unprecedented proportions.
In this time of unparalleled global prosperity, the challenge exists not only to feed a growing population, but to feed it well. As the number of obese and overweight people surges to rival the number of hungry, the scope of nutrition problems has widened beyond geographic and economic boundaries. This transition poses a significant threat to public health in the 21st century and forces us to take a critical view of our current food system.
The World Health Organization has estimated that by the year 2030 malnutrition and obesity will be the number one killer of people around the world. These dynamics can be attributed to a nutritional transition that resulted from industrial development and economic growth in the 20th century. As items such as meat, milk, cheese and sugar increased in availability, families began over-consuming these once reserved foodstuffs, and traditional diets featuring grains and vegetables were replaced with diets heavy in fat and processed starches.
Not limited to fast-food loving Westerners, an increasing number of children and adults in developing countries now face this emerging health crisis. Today, more than 115 million people in the developing world struggle with obesity-related ailments. A rise in urban populations – which expend less energy and are exposed to more calorie-dense foods – has exacerbated the problem. As more women work away from the home, patterns in food preparation have also changed, including a heavier reliance on nutritionally-limited processed and convenience foods.
While economic growth has promoted an increase in food consumption, it has also promoted inequality. The wealthy overconsume foods of little nutritional value while millions of poor remain undernourished and chronically hungry. As nutrient deficiencies suppress the immune system and promote disease affliction, the undernourished and overweight suffer alike. A decline in life expectancy and concomitant rise in the incidence of cancer, childhood blindness, heart disease, mental retardation and diabetes have thus amplified the public health burden. While the adverse effects of illness related to overconsumption and obesity can often be alleviated through diet and lifestyle change, the effects of undernourishment are often irreversible.
The existence of hunger in a world of plenty cannot be only attributed to a shortage of food, but also to inequitable distribution due to poverty and discrimination. Overnourishment and obesity similarly highlight a societal failure to adequately address the dietary needs of an increasingly urban and sedentary global population.
To address these issues, on October 12-14, the World Food Prize is gathering in Des Moines an exceptional array of international policymakers, scientists, medical specialists and business leaders to discuss these crucial issues.
Transcripts by Agenda
THE BOARD OF INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT — OPEN FORUM
“Agriculture and Nutrition: Roles and Links to Countering HIV/AIDS”
Hon. M. Peter McPherson
Chair BIFAD
Founding Co-Chair
Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Panel I: Roles and Links to Countering HIV/AIDS
Mr. Stewart Iverson (Moderator)
Iowa Senate Majority Leader
BIFAD Board Member
Dr. Mary Shawa
Principal Secretary for
Nutrition, HIV/AIDS
Office of the President and Cabinet
Malawi Government
Ms. Boitshepo Giyose
Senior Nutrition Advisor
African Union’s New Partnership
for Africa’s Development (NEPAD
1:45-2:45 Panel II: Cereal, Pulses and Animal Source Foods in Human Nutrition
Dr. Tag Demment (Moderator)
Director, Global Livestock Collaborative
Research Program
Professor, University of California-Davis
Dr. Maurice Bennink
Professor
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Michigan State University
Dr. Lindsay Allen
Director, USDA/ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center
Professor, University of California-Davis
Dr. Timothy D. Phillips
Professor of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health
College of Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University
3:15-4:30 Panel III: Biotechnology – Opportunities and Challenges
Dr. Josette Lewis (Moderator)
Senior Biotechnology Advisor
Office of Environmental and Science Policy
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Dr. Florence Wambugu
CEO
Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International
Mr. Jack Bobo
Trade Policy Advisor
U.S. Department of State
Dr. Manjit Misra
Director, Seed Science Center
Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Iowa State University
8:00 am – 8:45 a.m. OPENING CERMONY
Tom Vilsack
Governor
State of Iowa
Dr. Mary Mincer Hansen
Director
Iowa Department of Public Health
8:45 a.m. – Noon INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
U.N. Standing Committee On Nutrition
Isatou Jallow
Executive Director
National Nutrition Agency
The Gambia (TRANSCRIPT)
Dr. Patrick Webb
Dean of Academic Affairs
Friedman School of Nutrition, Science and Policy
Tufts University (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
Dr. John Hoddinott
Senior Research Fellow
Food Consumption and Nutrition Division International Food Policy Research Institute (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
Louise Sserunjogi
Nutrition Coordinator
Child Health and
Development Center
Makerere University (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
Ms. Boitshepo Giyose
Senior Nutrition Advisor
African Union’s New Partnership
for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) (TRANSCRIPT)
International Experts
Dr. Pedro Sanchez
Director of Tropical Agriculture
The Earth Institute
Columbia University
2002 World Food Prize Laureate (TRANSCRIPT)
Dr. Howarth Bouis
Director
HarvestPlus
CGIAR Biofortification
Challenge Program (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
Hon. M. Peter McPherson
Chair BIFAD
Founding Co-Chair
Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa
Hon. Abdoulaye Diop
Ambassador of Mali to the United States (TRANSCRIPT)
Noon – 2:00 p.m. SYMPOSIUM LUNCHEON
Hon. Julio Frenk
Minister of Health
Mexico
*Due to weather, Minister Frenk was unable to attend the luncheon. A transcript of Minister Frenk’s planned speach has been provided. Lunchtime remarks were instead given by Hon. M. Peter McPherson.
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. THE ROLE OF AGRIBUSINESS IN ENHANCED NUTRITION
Cynthia Milligan
Dean
School of Business Administration
University of Nebraska
Warren Staley
Chairman and CEO
Cargill (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
J. Erik Fyrwald
Group Vice President
DuPont Agriculture and Nutrition (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
Dr. Chris Nelson
President
Kemin Industries (TRANSCRIPT)
Dr. Robert Fraley
Executive Vice President and CTO
Monsanto (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. THE STANLEY FOUNDATION LECTURE: NUTRITION IN NORTH KOREA
Dr. Randall Ireson
DPRK Development Assistance Coordinator
American Friends Service Committee (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. SYMPOSIUM BREAKFAST
Hon. Mike Huckabee
Governor
State of Arkansas (TRANSCRIPT)
9:00 a.m. – Noon THE CHALLENGE OF OVERNUTRITION AND OBESITY
Dr. William Dietz
Director, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Centers for Disease Control and PreventionDr. James Levine
Professor of Medicine
Mayo Clinic (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
Dr. Mortimer Neufville
Vice President, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
Dr. David Ludwig
Director, Obesity Program
Children’s Hospital Boston
Associate Professor
Harvard Medical School (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
Dr. Walter Willett
Fredrick John Stare Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition
Harvard School of Public Health
Professor, Harvard Medical School (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
Noon – 2:00 p.m. LAUREATE LUNCHEON: BRINGING THE BLUE REVOLUTION TO THE POOR
Dr. Modadugu Gupta
Aquaculture Scientist
2005 World Food Prize Laureate (TRANSCRIPT)
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE LAUREATES’ RESPONSE
Dr. Norman E. Borlaug
1970 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Founder, The World Food Prize (TRANSCRIPT)
Dr. Nevin Scrimshaw
1991 World Food Prize Laureate (TRANSCRIPT) (POWERPOINT PRESENTATION)
Dr. Per Pinstrup-Andersen
2001 World Food Prize Laureate (TRANSCRIPT)