ARC exhibits at the World Food Prize in Iowa

DR VICKI TOLMAY, ARC-SMALL GRAINS INSTITUTE

The South African Agricultural Research Council (ARC) hosted an exhibition and side-event at The Borlaug Dialogue in Iowa during October 2013 as part of the World Food Prize celebrations.

The World Food Prize is an international award that recognises the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity, or availability of food in the world. The prize honours the legacy of Dr Norman Borlaug, who founded the World Food Prize together with John Ruan (Sr.). Laureates are officially awarded their prize in Des Moines, Iowa, in a televised award ceremony held in the House Chamber of the Iowa State Capitol.

Associated with the prize, is an almost week long dialogue on food security and ending hunger, an event known as The Borlaug Dialogue. This year the Dialogue attracted a record crowd of more than 1 500 people.

At this event a series of lectures are given, panel discussions held and scientific information shared on solutions to the global hunger challenge. Referred to as the “premier conference in the world on global agriculture”, plans on how to meet the food needs of the world, estimated to reach 9 billion by 2050, were discussed.

A smallholder farmer from South Africa, Ms Eve Ntseoane, took part in the panel discussion entitled “Engaging future leaders to end hunger”, together with Julie Borlaug (assistant director, Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M), Mpule Kwelagoba (CEO of New York based Mpule Institute for Endogenous Development) and moderator
Ellen Kullman (CEO of DuPont).

Other speakers during the four day event included the honourable Tony Blair (former prime minister of Great Britain), philanthropist Howard G Buffett, Dr Florence Chenoweth (Minister of Agriculture, Liberia), Anne Glover (chief scientific advisor to the president of the European Union), Maurcio Lopes (president of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Organisation, EMBRAPA) and Juergen Voegele (director Agricultural and Environmental Services of the World Bank).

During the side-event, a brief overview on the ARC was presented by Mr Sipho Mokgoatlheng. Dr Lucky Nedambale spoke on “Agricultural food security and climate change – transitions in African agriculture, livestock production and health” and Dr Vicki Tolmay spoke on “Food security – the challenge for African agriculture: ‘Climate-smart’ field crops”.

The ARC representatives were also invited to attend the award ceremony where three researchers, namely Dr Marc van Montagu of Belgium, Dr Mary-Dell Chilton of Syngenta and Dr Robert T. Fraley of Monsanto, who all played prominent roles in developing genetically modified crops, were awarded the World Food Prize during a music- and history-filled ceremony in the magnificent Iowa State Capitol Building.

These three scientists were recognised for their independent, individual breakthrough achievements in founding, developing and applying modern agricultural biotechnology.