Many members of the agricultural community have fond memories of former Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS), who passed away Sunday at the age of 98. Here’s mine. In 2008, Dole was honored with the World Food Prize, along with former Democrat Sen. George McGovern, for their work in creating the McGovern-Dole international school-feeding program. They both remind us of a time …
Global Ag Innovation Program Launched
During the World Food Prize activities this week in Des Moines, America’s Cultivation Corridor™ announced the launch of the Cultivo Global Ag Innovation Program™ for startup companies and entrepreneurs. The new program will bring international start-ups to Iowa for a 10-day immersion experience, training and networking. “Iowa producers feed and fuel the world, making us the perfect host for the …
World Food Prize Winner Announced
The 2019 World Food Prize Laureate is Simon N. Groot of the Netherlands. Groot has played an important role in enhancing vegetable production for millions of smallholder farmers, affording consumers greater access to healthy diets in more than 60 countries. The announcement was made at a ceremony in the U.S. Department of State hosted and presided over by Secretary of …
President of World Food Prize to Retire
Ambassador Kenneth Quinn will retire as president of the World Food Prize Foundation on January 3, 2020 after 20 years leading the organization. Quinn made the announcement earlier this week at the Hall of Laureates in Des Moines during a reception commemorating the 105th anniversary of Dr. Norman Borlaug’s birth. “Leading the World Food Prize and endeavoring to fulfill the …
GAP Report Says Ag Productivity Growth Too Slow
The Global Harvest Initiative 2017 GAP report was released Wednesday at the World Food Prize symposium in Des Moines, and for the fourth straight year it shows that global agricultural productivity growth is not accelerating fast enough to sustainably feed the world in 2050. “If agricultural productivity growth continues to decline, there will be significant ramifications for the economic vitality …
Agribusiness News Briefs
Syngenta has announced its new ambition and priorities following the completion of the transaction with ChemChina. The company aims to profitably grow market share through organic growth and collaborations, and is considering targeted acquisitions with a focus on seeds. The goal is to strengthen Syngenta’s leadership position in crop protection and to become an ambitious number three in seeds. Agricultural …
Vilsack Receives Norman Borlaug Medallion
At a special ceremony at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines last week, the World Food Prize Foundation honored the USDA and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack with the Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Medallion. Ambassador Ken Quinn explained that the Borlaug Medallion, which was created to recognize institutions not eligible to receive the World Food Prize itself, …
Bayer Exec Keynotes at #FoodPrize16
Liam Condon, head of Bayer’s CropScience Division, gave the breakfast keynote speech at the 2016 Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium in Des Moines on Friday, bringing the future of farming to the overall theme of the event this year “Let Food by Thy Medicine.” “Food needs to be nutritious, abundant in supply, safe and affordable,” said Condon. “We all need to …
New NAS Prize For Food & Ag Research
During the 2016 Borlaug Dialogue last week in Des Moines, Iowa, an announcement was made officially launching the first National Academy of Sciences (NAS) prize dedicated to food and agriculture research. The new NAS Prize in Food and Agricultural Sciences, endowed in perpetuity by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for …
Kevin Folta Awarded Borlaug CAST Communications Award
Dr. Kevin Folta was recognized as the winner of the seventh Borlaug CAST Communication Award (BCCA), and was honored with the award at a World Food Prize side event. Folta gave a memorable keynote address, titled “Unveiling Our Halo – Building Trust with a Concerned Consumer.” Volta serves as the Chair of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of …