2011 Borlaug Dialogue

October 12-14, 2011 – Des Moines, Iowa. The 2011 Borlaug Dialogue international symposium gathered the top minds and foremost leaders in global agriculture, food and development. The World Food Prize celebrates its 25th Anniversary of bringing hunger issues to the forefront.

The "Next Generation" theme 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, this 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.