Gordon Conway attended the World Food Prize in Des Moines

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Sir Gordon attended this year's World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa from 12th - 14th October.

The World Food Prize

This year's World Food Prize took place at the Downtown Marriot Hotel in Des Moines from 12th-14th October.  Sir Gordon gave a presentation to students at the Des Moines Academy also moderated a symposium entitled 'Improving Efficiencies in the Entire Value Chain'.

The 2011 Laureates

The laureates John Agyekum Kufuor and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have been chosen to jointly receive the 2011 World Food Prize for their personal commitment and visionary leadership while serving as the presidents of Ghana and of Brazil, respectively, in creating and implementing government policies to alleviate hunger and poverty in their countries.

The significant achievements of these two former heads of state illustrate that transformational leadership truly can effect positive change and greatly improve people’s lives. 

The Next Generation: Confronting the Hunger Challenges of Tomorrow

This years theme is on the next generation which asked 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, the three-day dialogue addressed 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 were 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.

For more information on the World Food Prize, see their website

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