World Food Prize Foundation
2014 Borlaug Dialogue
October 15-17, 2014, Des Moines, Iowa – Des Moines Marriott Downtown Hotel
The greatest challenge in human history: Can we sustainably feed the 9 billion people on our planet by the year 2050
As we conclude the yearlong centennial observance of the birth of our founder, Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, the 2014 Borlaug Dialogue international symposium will draw upon Dr. Borlaug’s legacy and address “The Greatest Challenge in Human History: Can We Sustainably Feed the 9 Billion People on our Planet by the Year 2050?” The Dialogue will give special emphasis to the powers of intensification, innovation and inspiration to uplift smallholder farmers and meet the increasing demand for nutritious food. Discussion topics will include:
taking stock of where we currently stand in meeting the “greatest challenge in human history”;
closing yield gaps while addressing pressing water, gender and nutrition challenges and disparities;
the role of information technology and data to increase productivity, conserve the environment, adapt to climate volatility and consumer needs, and improve the lives of farmers and other participants along the value chain;
sustainable intensification to improve productivity with a special focus on soils and fertilizers;
innovations in insurance and agrofinancing;
and the role of the next generation in the fight against hunger through the DialogueNEXT conversation that features young innovators and thought leaders who are contributing new ideas, concepts and achievements toward this goal.
A special highlight at this year’s Borlaug Dialogue will be the awarding of the 40 Chances Fellowships – the special initiative we announced at the 2013 Borlaug Dialogue with former Prime Minister Tony Blair and Howard G. Buffett – to four young innovators under the age of 40, who will each receive $150,000 in start-up funds to implement market and social entrepreneurship projects to confront hunger, poverty and conflict in Liberia, Malawi, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.
Referred to as the “premier conference in the world on global agriculture”, the Borlaug Dialogue will feature expertise and diverse perspectives of governmental leaders; policymakers; farmers; CEOs and executives from agribusiness; leaders of non-governmental organizations; and scientific, academic and development experts from around the world. Highlighted speakers include:
His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, President, Republic of Sierra Leone
His Excellency Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development
The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, United States
His Excellency Enrique Martinez y Martinez, Secretary of Agriculture, Mexico
Her Excellency Florence Chenoweth, Minister of Agriculture, Liberia
In addition to the plenary symposium program of keynote speakers and conversation sessions, we are also pleased to offer Borlaug Dialogue attendees the opportunity to register for the following events:
Ceremony and Reception for the Borlaug Field Award for Research and Application, Endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation (Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m.)
Iowa Farm Tours (Oct. 17, afternoon): Organized by the Iowa Soybean Association, this event will provide an opportunity for national and international guests to travel to a real working Iowa farm during harvest.
Transcripts by Agenda
The Iowa Hunger Summit
Gov. Branstad Presents Ray Humanitarian Award to Merry Fredrick of SelfHelp International (Transcript, Video)
Opening Keynote Address (Transcript, Video)
H. E. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development
The Borlaug Report: Assessing the Greatest Challenge- What Are The Trendlines? Are We On Course?
(Transcript, Video)
Speaker: Dr. Kenneth Cassman, Robert B. Daugherty Professor of Agronomy, Co-PI, Editor-in-Chief, University of Nebraska, Global Yield Gap Atlas, Global Food Security
The Borlaug Report: Critical Factors in Meeting the Greatest Challenge (Transcript, Video)
Sir Gordon Conway, Moderator, Professor of International Development, Imperial College London
Dr. Leo Abruzzese, Global Forecasting Director and Director of Public Policy, Economist Intelligence Unit
Dr. Shenggen Fan, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute
Marc Sadler, Adviser on Risk and Markets, Agriculture Global Practice, The World Bank
Dr. Margaret Zeigler, Executive Director, Global Harvest Initiative
The Borlaug Report: Crop Intensification, Technology and Environmental Sustainability (Transcript, Video)
Dr. MS Swaminathan, Moderator, 1987 World Food Prize Laureate
Dr. Robert Fraley, 2013 World Food Prize Laureate & Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Monsanto
Hon. Dan Glickman, Former US Secretary of Agriculture & Co-chair, Chicago Council on Global Affairs Initiative On Global Food Security
Tjada McKenna, Deputy Coordinator for Development for Feed the Future, United States Agency for International Development
Dr. Mark W. Rosegrant, Director, Environment and Production Technology Division, International Food Policy Research Institute
The Nutrition Gap (Transcript, Video)
David Strelneck, Moderator, Senior Advisor, Environment, Nutrient Value Chain, Social Entrepreneurship
Dr. Bram Govaerts, 2014 Borlaug Field Award Winner, Associate Director of the Global Conservation Agriculture Program, CIMMYT
Tom Leech, Senior Vice President of Global Food and Consumables Sourcing, Walmart U.S.
Katherine Pickus, Divisional Vice President, Global Citizenship and Policy, Abbott Vice President, Abbott Fund
Navyn Salem, Founder and Executive Director, Edesia Inc.
Soil Health & The Fertilizer Gap (Transcript, Video)
Dr. Pedro Sanchez, Moderator, 2002 World Food Prize Laureate, Director of Agriculture and Food Security Center, Earth Institute at Columbia University
Dr. Xinping Chen, Director, Center of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, China Agriculture University
Esin Mete, President, International Fertilizer Industry Association
Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas, Executive Director, The Mosaic Company Foundation
Dr. Ruth Oniang’o, Chair, Sasakawa Africa Association
Dr. Amit Roy, President and CEO, International Fertilizer Development Center
Keynote Address (Transcript, Video)
Dr. Pamela Anderson, Director of Agricultural Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Keynote Address: Is This The Model to Uplift the African Smallholder? (Transcript, Video)
Dr. Emma Naluyima Mugerwa, Ugandan Veterinarian and Smallholder Farmer
Keynote Address (Transcript, Video)
H. E. Ernest Bai Koroma, President, Republic of Sierra Leone
Focus on Africa: Policy and Partnerships (Transcript, Video)
Dr. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, Moderator, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Mission, Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN)
H. E. Florence Chenoweth, Minister of Agriculture, Liberia
Birtukan Dagnachew, Smallholder Farmer and Female Food Hero, Ethiopia
H. E. Gerardine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Republic of Rwanda
Paul Schickler, President, DuPont Pioneer
H. E. Joseph Sam Sesay, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Sierra Leone
Global Food Challenge Emerging Leaders for Food Security Program Recipients (Transcript, Video)
Barry Wolfish, Chief Marketing Officer, Land O’Lakes
40 Chances Fellows Award Winners- Liberia, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone (Transcript, Video)
Howard W. Buffett, Lecturer, Columbia University – School of International and Public Affairs
Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, President, World Food Prize Foundation
Luncheon Address: The View from the AGRA Forum (Transcript, Video)
Strive Masiyiwa, Chairman and Founder, Econet Wireless, Chairman of the Board, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
Water for Agriculture: Trendlines and Gaps (Transcript, Video)
Margaret Catley-Carlson, Moderator, UN Secretary General Advisory Board on Water
Paul Bakus, President, Nestlé Corporate Affairs
Dan Bena, Sustainable Development & Operations Outreach, PepsiCo Global Operations
Dr. Dilip Kulkarni, President, Agri-Food Division, Jain Irrigation
STEM Food and Ag Council Announcement (Transcript, Video)
Hon. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Governor of Iowa
Paul Schickler, President, DuPont Pioneer
The Secretary’s Roundtable (Transcript, Video)
Hon. Tom Vilsack, Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture
H. E. Enrique Martinez y Martinez, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, Mexico
Precision Agriculture and Big Data: The Next Frontier (Transcript, Video)
Dr. David Muth, Moderator, Senior Vice President, AgSolver, Inc.
Dr. Claudia Garcia, Senior Director, Global Market Access, Elanco Animal Health
Dr. David Gebhardt, Director, Agronomic Data and Technology, WinField
John May, President, Agricultural Solutions & Chief Information Officer, John Deere
Kerry J. Preete, Executive Vice President, Global Strategy, Monsanto
Breakfast Address: Inspiring the Next Generation (Transcript, Video)
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, 1987 World Food Prize Laureate
Trendlines for Political Stability, Global Trade and Potential Disruptions (Video)
Opening Address (Transcript)
Ambassador Charles Rivkin, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Panel (Transcript)
Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, Moderator, President, The World Food Prize Foundation
Dr. John Hamre, CEO and President, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Amb. Daniel Speckhard, President and CEO, Lutheran World Relief
The Smallholder’s Lifeline: Innovations in Agro-Financing and Insurance (Transcript, Video)
Dr. Per Pinstrup- Andersen, Moderator, 2001 World Food Prize Laureate and Cornell University, H.E. Babcock Professor of Food & Nutrition
Mohammed Amin Adam, Executive Director, Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP)
Dr. Marco Ferroni, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture
Ndidi Nwuneli, Co-founder, AACE Food Processing & Distribution
Dr. Jimmy Smith, Director General, International Livestock Research Institute
Dr. Kurt Weinberger, President, International Association of Agricultural Production Insurers
Borlaug’s Dream for Wheat: Technology and Collaboration to Confront Rust Disease (Transcript, Video)
Dr. Ronnie Coffman, Moderator, International Professor of Plant Breeding, Director of International Programs, Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dr. Hans‐Joachim Braun, Director, Global Wheat Program, CIMMYT
Dr. Catherine Feuillet, Sr. VP Trait Research, Bayer CropScience
Dr. Indu Sharma, Project Director, Directorate of Wheat Research
Dr. Mahmoud Solh, Director General, International Center for Agriculture Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA)
Laureate Luncheon Address (Transcript, Video)
Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram, 2014 World Food Prize Laureate