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Publication Now Available: 2010 Borlaug Dialogue Highlights

By W. Sparks, sustainability writer

Posted about 1 year ago

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The annual World Food Prize is “the premier conference in the world on global agriculture,” according to Sir Gordon Conway, Professor of International Development for the Centre for Environmental Policy. Held in Des Moines, Iowa, from Oct. 13-15, 2010, the international event attracted more than 1,000 participants from 65 countries. Held in conjunction with the World Food Prize, the Borlaug Dialogue brings together international experts and policy leaders to address cutting-edge issues in food security and nutrition. A summary report of the Dialogue, 2010 Borlaug Dialogue Highlights, is now available online.

The publication includes excerpts from speeches, images and other highlights. You can view the entire collection of audio and video recordings from the event, as well as complete transcripts, at www.worldfoodprize.org.

Quotes from keynote speakers include:

• "Although the proportion of people suffering from hunger is declining, the pace of progress remains unsatisfactory. Without coordinated and urgent action, the most basic goal of reducing poverty and world hunger is not likely to be met by 2015 in many countries. Achieving this ambition requires fundamental reform of economic and social policies across the planet."

- H.E. Kofi Annan, Chairman, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa

• "Investment in small farmers has an amazing ripple effect. What you do is not just about alleviating hunger and poverty ... It is about helping people make their dreams come true."

-Jeff Raikes, CEO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

• "To address hunger, there is no simple answer."

-Howard Buffett, President, Howard G. Buffett Foundation

• "The survival of agricultural activities is essential ... We need to work more closely to address the issues of crop and animal health, which are key to economic stability and food security."

- Hon. Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

• "We don't just want to buy food from anyone - we want to create markets for the most vulnerable smallholders. And we intend to document what's working and what is not, and explore its expansion, especially in priority agricultural communities, such as Southern Sudan."

- Hon. Rajiv Shah, Administrator, USAID

The 2010 World Food Prize Laureates were two grassroots advocacy leaders, David Beckmann, president of the Bread for the World, and Jo Luck, president of Heifer International.

Quotes from the Laureates include:

• "I believe in God and when I look at the progress the world has made against hunger and poverty, I do think this is God moving in our time, answering the prayers of hundreds of millions of people."

-David Beckmann, 2010 World Food Prize Laureate and President of Bread for the World

• While not everyone can be a millionaire, a smallholder farmer with the right resources and training is going to be an entrepreneur and can still be a great success."

-Jo Luck, 2010 World Food Prize Laureate and President of Heifer International

In October 2011, Des Moines will host the next World Food Prize with a focus on "The Next Generation."