World Food Prize Twitter Exploration

It is World Food Prize week! This is a time when world leaders gather to tackle the challenges around food insecurity. The Borlaug International Dialogue has so many engaging sessions throughout the week. Many of these sessions' main points are highlighted via Twitter and can be found by following #FoodPrize21. Many topics are covered including sustainable agriculture, research and innovation, gender equity, climate change, best practices, and much more. If you are on Twitter grab your phone and search #FoodPrize21. If you are not a Twitter user you can still follow the conversation via this link as long as posts are not protected/private.

We encourage you to explore the Tweets that have the hashtag #FoodPrize21 and complete the challenges below. You may discuss your findings/thoughts with others or quote retweet and start a conversation online.

• Find a #FoodPrize21 tweet that you agree with. Explain why this is the case for yourself.
• Find a #FoodPrize21 tweet that you disagree with or question. Why is this the case?
• Find a #FoodPrize21 tweet that surprises you and you would like to explore further. Why did this Tweet grab your attention?

Keep in mind that throughout this week Tweets will continue to be posted. Return often to explore further conversations!

#FoodPrize20

 It is World Food Prize week! In past years leaders and experts in agriculture, food, and nutrition from around the globe gather in Des Moines, Iowa (USA) in mid-October. In our current times we are called to gather in a virtual community. This year, like past years, has provided an excellent opportunity to learn from one another and create positive change in the world around us at home and abroad. We encourage you to discuss some of the impactful quotes shared throughout the week, so far, and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations with others around the globe. 

Discussion Points

• Of the quotes shared below, which quotes grab your attention and why?
• Identify a quote (or a couple quotes) from below that apply to you currently (or you can relate to). How and why does this quote/quotes apply to you and/or your local community?
• Are there any quotes that you disagree with or would like to challenge further? Explain.
• Pick a quote to explore further. Let the quote lead you to further research. Share your findings with others. 

Translating Climate Science to Action

• "The climate crisis is here right now. It is getting worse. We have the solutions. It is already drastically impacting farmers. You all, particularly the young people, give me hope, that we can and we will solve the climate crisis." Al Gore, Former Vice President of the United States
• "Humans are the mirror image of the land we live upon." Dr. Rattan Lal, Distinguished Professor at The Ohio State University

Carbon Sequestration, Sustainability in Agriculture, and the Rise of Carbon Markets

• "When I harvest, I harvest the crop, I harvest information, and I harvest CO2 from the atmosphere. That is a win-win-win, not just a win-win." Gabriel Carballal, Farmer from Uruguay
• "Farmers are the world's largest group of land stewards." Sally Rockey, Executive Director of Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

Investment Innovations for Food Systems Transformation

• "I believe that finance and investment has got to come from all sources." Ted McKinney, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign agricultural Affairs, US Department of Agriculture
• "The people need the planet; the planet doesn't need people." Hillary Barry, Founder and Secretary General, LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub

The Role of Media in Shaping Public Engagement in Food Systems

• "Disseminating science has never been more challenging than in the current landscape." Alex Lamm, Associate Professor at the University of Georgia
• "We are all consumers of information and media and we must train ourselves to distinguish reliable sources from unreliable information and sources." Adam Roberts, Midwest Correspondent with The Economist

Safe, Affordable, Nutritious Food Year Round: Global Aspirations to Local Application for Nutrition

• "In order to feed, in order to produce food, for 10 billion people by 2050...what the world needs is to add an additional 450 million hectares of planting nutrient dense foods and 630 million less hectares of nutrient deficient foods." Pedro Sanchez, 2002 World food Prize Laureate
• "Poor diets are not simply a matter of personal choices. Many people cannot access or afford nutritious food." Renata Micha, Chair of the Independent Expert Group, Global Nutrition Report

Keynote: H.E. Gilbert Houngbo

• "If the women were to have the same productive resources, in agriculture, as men we would have 150 million less people suffering from malnutrition and hunger." H.E. Gilbert Houngbo, President of International Fund for agricultural Development
• "Economic and environmental development must go hand in hand." H.E. Gilbert Houngbo

Remarks from 2020 Laureate

• "Science is useless if it does not serve humanity." Dr. Rattan Lal
• "I believe that helping people, plants, animals, and ecosystems is one and indivisible." Dr. Rattan Lal

Do not let the conversations end here. Jump on social media using #FoodPrize20 to engage further!

World Food Prize Reflections

Last week I was able to attend a week of World Food Prize events in Des Moines, Iowa and we were even able to host a Laureate Lecture on campus in Waterloo. The week is always filled with incredible and inspiring learning opportunities. Throughout the week I took note of many pieces of information and quotes shared. Below you will find a small selection of some quotes I took note of. I encourage you to read through the quotes below and challenge you to discuss with others around the globe!

Challenge:

1. Read each quote individually.
2. Pick at least two quotes to think about and analyze further, in regards to solving world hunger and malnutrition and/or improving agriculture around the globe.
3. Share your thoughts: Discuss with others, raise awareness on social media, create a poster to share with your class/school, and/or take action.

"When rebuilding after conflict nothing can be accomplished until we eat. We must have food in our stomach before anything else." H.E. Chanthol Sun

"We can do well by doing good. Profit and fulfilling a mission can be done together." Polly Ruhland

"We are very good at describing a world we do not want, but we are not very good at describing the world we do want. We must have a vision." Roy Steiner

"Can we feed nine billion people by 2045? When I look at the science and technology I am optimistic, but the pessimistic side of me is concerned by the role politics and regulations play." Chris Nelson

"It's about feeding the world, without starving the earth." Liam Condon

"We all must work off the same data and information before change can happen." Sara Menker

"All lives have equal value, but not all lives have equal opportunities." Roger Voorhies

"In a world with less and less certainty we need more diversity (seed and plant)." Lawrence Haddad

Agriculture and Climate Change

This week's blog comes to you from the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue. On the opening day of the Dialogue there was a panel that discussed climate change and how agriculture can be a leader in fighting climate change. A representative with the US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance shared the following video with those in attendance. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe.

30 Harvests

Discussion Points

• After watching the video explain your general thoughts and feelings.
• How can those in agriculture around the world lead the way in the fight against climate change?
• What can you do to combat climate change in your community?
• The family in this video highlighted several hardships they are facing. What hardships do farmers and producers face in your community and around the world? How do they overcome these challenges? How can you support them?