World Food Prize Foundation

2011 Borlaug Dialogue

October 12-14, 2011 – Des Moines, Iowa – Des Moines Marriott Downtown Hotel

The Next Generation: Confronting the Hunger Challenges of Tomorrow

Inspired by The Importance that Nobel Laureate and World Food Prize founder Dr. Norman Borlaug placed on educating and developing the next generation of leaders in the fight against hunger, the 2011 Borlaug Dialogue international symposium will gather the top minds and foremost leaders in global agriculture, food and development this October in Des Moines. As the World Food Prize celebrates its 25th Anniversary of bringing hunger issues to the forefront, we will look ahead even further to discuss tomorrow’s issues and challenges.

As global leaders and institutions look to improve the agricultural and development landscape of the future, we are faced with the pressing question of how to feed a projected population of 9 billion by 2050 while confronting a wide range of new agricultural, environmental, climate, health, geopolitical, economic and demographic challenges.

Borlaug Dialogue presenter photo

The “Next Generation” theme will ask several critical questions:

  • What are the most pressing future challenges that the global community will face in fighting hunger and poverty?
  • Who will be the next generation of leaders to confront such challenges and how do we best prepare and develop these leaders?
  • What are the next generation of technologies, methodologies, models and solutions to overcome such challenges?

Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 12, this three-day dialogue will address the questions above by exploring the following:

  • Empowering youth through education and economic opportunities
  • The role of private investment in smallholder capital to spur innovation and entrepreneurship
  • The coexistence of high-tech agriculture and agro-ecology in promoting sustainability
  • New technologies and practices in improving agricultural ecosystems and environmental resource management
  • Improving efficiencies along the agricultural value chain and its effect on development, nutrition and health
  • Leveraging markets and trade on the macroeconomic level between high-income and developing countries
  • Changing demographics and the impact of population and dietary shifts, urbanization and aging
  • Maximizing the potential of women and girls in fighting hunger and poverty
  • Enhancing communication and collaboration across sectors and among all stakeholders to increase awareness and participation at all levels of advocacy.

These and other critical issues will be explored through keynote presentations and lively and engaging “conversation” sessions that will feature the expertise and diverse perspectives of governmental leaders, policymakers, CEOs and executives from agribusiness and NGOs, scientific and academic experts, development leaders and young leaders from around the world.

Please watch for a full agenda following our June 21 Laureate Announcement Ceremony.

History of the Symposium

THE NORMAN E. BORLAUG INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM is held each year in conjunction with the awarding of the World Food Prize.

This annual “Davos-type” dialogue brings together international experts and policy leaders to address cutting-edge issues in food security and nutrition. Through the International Symposium, known informally as the Borlaug Dialogue, the World Food Prize Foundation helps build alliances in the struggle against world hunger and malnutrition.

These efforts help to promote health, enhanced nutrition, and safety both at home and abroad with the first-ever conference to simultaneously address obesity and malnutrition and the first post-9/11 conference anywhere to address agroterrorism.

Transcripts by Agenda

1:15 p.m.   CEO Roundtable: “The Role of the Private Sector in Sustainable Agricultural Development” (Video) (Transcript)

Samuel Allen – Chairman and CEO, Deere & Co.

James Borel – Executive Vice President, DuPont 

Hugh Grant – President and CEO, Monsanto Company

Namanga Ngongi – President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Patricia Woertz – Chairman, CEO and President, Archer Daniels Midland Company

Richard Leach – President and CEO, World Food Program USA (Moderator)

2:30 p.m. Keynote Address: “Farming, Philanthropy and Failure: Lessons About Small Farmers and Feeding the World” (Video) (Transcript)

Howard Buffett – President, Howard G. Buffett Foundation

3:00 p.m. Keynote Address: “The Phosphate Challenge” (Video) (Transcript)

Steen Riisgaard – President and CEO, Novozymes

3:30 p.m. Conversation: “Empowering Youth Leaders and Entrepreneurs in Agricultural Engagement and Innovation” (Video) (Transcript) 

Rikin Gandhi – CEO, Digital Green 

Millicent Akinyi Obare – Youth Leader, 4-H Kenya

Eric Pohlman – Senior Partner/Rwanda Country Director/Co-founder, One Acre Fund 

José Zaglul – President, EARTH University

Rick Little – CEO, ImagineNations (Moderator)

8:00 a.m.  Conversation: Improving Efficiencies in the Entire Value Chain (Video) (Transcript)

Silas Samson Buru – Ethiopian Farmer, Oxfam Horn of Africa Risk Transfer Adaptation Program

Shenggen Fan – Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute

J. Carl Ganter – Co-founder and Director, Circle of Blue

Beth Keck – Senior Vice President for Sustainability, Wal-Mart

Perry Yeatman – Senior Vice President, Kraft Foods Inc., President of Kraft Foods Foundation

Sir Gordon Conway – Professor of International Development, Imperial College London (Moderator)

9:30 a.m.   The Secretary’s Roundtable: “Sharing Agricultural Knowledge to Drive Sustainable Growth”  (Video) (Transcript)

Hon. Thomas J. Vilsack – Secretary of Agriculture, United States

Hon. Kwesi Ahwoi – Minister of Agriculture, Ghana

Hon. Jumanne Maghembe – Minister of Agriculture, Tanzania

Hon. José Pacheco –  Minister of Agriculture, Mozambique

Dr. José Graziano da Silva – Regional Representative and Assistant Director-General, UN Food and Agriculture Organization  

10:30 a.m. Conversation: Innovative Solutions to Maximize the Potential of Women and Girls in Agricultural Development (Video) (Transcript)

Sam Dryden – Director of Agricultural Development, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Matilda Auma Ouma – Deputy District Agricultural Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya

Ritu Sharma – Co-founder and President, Women Thrive Worldwide

Catherine Bertini – 2003 World Food Prize Laureate (Moderator)

11:30 a.m. Keynote Address: “Ending Hunger and Malnutrition” (Video) (Transcript)    

Josette Sheeran – Executive Director, UN World Food Program

Noon.  Symposium Luncheon Keynote (Video) (Transcript)

Ellen Kullman – Chairman and CEO, DuPont

2:15 p.m.   African Presidential Leadership Roundtable (Video) (Transcript)

H.E. Joaquim Chissano – former President, Mozambique 

H.E. Sir Dawda Jawara – former President, The Gambia

H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo – former President, Nigeria

H.E. Mizengo Pinda – Prime Minister, Tanzania

Gebisa Ejeta – 2009 World Food Prize Laureate (Moderator)

7:30 a.m.  Symposium Breakfast Keynote (Video) (Transcript)

Michael Mack – CEO and Executive Director, Syngenta

9:00 a.m.  Laureate Keynote Address (Video – English) (Video – Portuguese) (Transcript)

H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – 2011 World Food Prize Laureate and former President, Brazil

9:30 a.m.  Conversation: The Greening of Agriculture (Video) (Transcript)

Kwesi Atta-Krah – Deputy Director General, Bioversity International

Daniel Hillel – Senior Research Scientist, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Columbia Earth Institute

Rattan Lal – Professor of Soil Science, School of Environment and Natural Resources,Ohio State University          

Sahr Lebbie – Africa Area Vice President, Heifer International

Johannes Lehmann – Chairman of the Board, International Biochar Initiative

Margaret Catley-Carlson – Chair, World Economic Forum Advisory Council on Water (Moderator)

11:00 a.m.  Conversation: Enhancing Communication and Collaboration Across All Stakeholders (Video) (Transcript)

Ellen Gustafson – Co-founder, FEED and Founder/Executive Director of 30 Project 

Bruce McNamer – President and CEO, TechnoServe

Louise Fresco – Distinguished Professor, University of Amsterdam (Moderator)

12:30 p.m.  2011 World Food Prize Laureate Luncheon Keynote Address (Video) (Transcript)

H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor – 2011 World Food Prize Laureate and former President, Ghana

25th Anniversary Laureate Essays

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the World Food Prize, several esteemed laureates reflected upon past achievements in food security, and offered their insights on the world’s future needs, as well. You can read their essays at the links below. 

Speakers & Transcripts