Top Global Voices in Agriculture, Policy and Innovation Confirmed for
2025 World Food Prize Week
October 21–23 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA
WHAT: The World Food Prize Foundation will host the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue under the theme “SOILutions for Security,” underscoring the foundational role that agriculture plays in sustaining global stability. As the world’s population rises and new challenges strain food systems, a global consensus is taking root: soil is more than dirt—it is a dynamic, living system that underpins human survival. In an era of economic disruption, conflict and environmental stress, the Borlaug Dialogue will examine how diverse industries and sectors can unite to address these challenges from the ground up.
The agenda is now livefor the 2025 World Food Prize week of events, which consists of the Borlaug Dialogue, the Laureate Award Ceremony, the Global Youth Institute, the presentation of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation, the Innovate for Impact Challenge, dozens of side events, exhibitor booths, Deep Dives at the Dialogue (formerly breakout sessions) as well as Iowa Farm Tours..
WHEN: October 21-23, 2025
(The full press room schedule will be made available by October 10.)
WHERE: Iowa Events Center, 730 3rd St, Des Moines, Iowa, 50309
HOW TO REGISTER: Members of accredited media organizations can register before Oct 17. Full registration details are available here.
WHO: The Borlaug Dialogue will feature a mixture of speakers ranging from policy-makers, scientists, Nobel Laureates, World Food Prize Laureates, innovators, business owners, farmers and world-renowned chefs. Highlighted speakers for the event include:
- H.E. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang | Vice President, Republic of Ghana
- Hon. Eric Opoku | Minister of Food and Agriculture, Republic of Ghana
- Hon. Henry Musa Kpaka | Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Government of Sierra Leone
- Hon. J. Alexander Nuetah | Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Liberia
- Hon. Akinwumi Adesina | 2017 World Food Prize Laureate and President, African Development Bank Group
- Amb. Cindy McCain | Executive Director, World Food Programme
- José Andrés | Humanitarian, Culinary innovator, Educator and New York Times Bestselling Author
- Brian Sikes | Board Chair and CEO, Cargill
- Cary Fowler | 2024 World Food Prize Laureate
- Chris Abbott | CEO, Pivot Bio
- Chris Nelson | 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer, President and CEO, Kemin Industries
- Johan Swinnen | Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute
- Mariangela Hungria | 2025 World Food Prize Laureate and Senior Researcher, Embrapa National Soybean Center
- Rattan Lal | 2020 World Food Prize Laureate and Distinguished Professor and Director of the Lal Carbon Center, the Ohio State University
- Sanjeev Kapoor | 2025 Top Agri-food Pioneer, Culinary Icon, Humanitarian and Entrepreneur
- Sanaa Abourezk | Chef and Restaurateur, Sanaa’s Gourmet Mediterranean
- Sir Richard Roberts | 1993 Nobel Prize Laureate and Chief Science Officer, New England BioLabs
- Ismahane Elouafi | Executive Managing Director, CGIAR
- Michael Werz | Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relation
- Jason Brantley | VP of Production Systems, Small Ag and Turf, John Deere
- Han Chen | 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer, Co-Founder and CEO, ZeaKal
- Jason Cope | 2025 Top Agri-food Pioneer and CIPO, PowerPollen
- Rachel Ruan McLean | Vice Chair, World Food Prize Foundation Board of Directors
- Cynthia Hardin Milligan | Member, World Food Prize Foundation Board of Directors, President and CEO, Wood-Stieper Capital Group
- Jorge Fernández Vidal | Managing Director and Head Agriculture and Food, Liechtenstein Group
WHY: The World Food Prize is a $500,000 award that recognizes contributions in any field involved in the world food supply including, but not limited to: plant, animal and soil science; food science and technology; nutrition; rural development; marketing; food processing and packaging; water and the environment; natural resource conservation; physical infrastructure; transportation, storage and distribution; special or extraordinary feeding programs; social organization and poverty elimination; economics and finance; policy analysis; and public advocacy.
The World Food Prize calls forth the global imperative to provide safe, affordable, nutritious, sustainable and equitable food for all. By honoring those who have worked successfully toward this goal, The Prize uplifts the work and reminds us of all to be accomplished in the future.
NOTES ON REGISTRATION: All members of the press who plan to attend must register. Your accreditation will be verified (as defined by the United Nations guidelines), and then you will be issued a press pass. A valid press badge is required in order to collect their credentials for access to any events during the World Food Prize Week of Events. For event security purposes, event organizers cannot guarantee entry to media that have not registered ahead of time; they may be required to wait for credentials to be issued and may not be able to be accommodated.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For press registration inquiries and all media requests, please contact Zach Clemens at [email protected] or 515.381.7362.
About the World Food Prize: The World Food Prize is an international award that honors individuals who have improved the quality, quantity or availability of food worldwide. The Prize was founded by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize, for his work that contributed to increases in agricultural outputs which was termed the Green Revolution. Since then, the Prize has been awarded to 55 distinguished individuals during the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue. The Dialogue, also known as the Borlaug Dialogue, is a week of events dedicated to an issue surrounding food insecurity or hunger each year.
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