| Bill Gates delivers his first address on agriculture at 2009 Borlaug Dialogue |
Following his address, Gates was joined on stage by 2009 World Food Prize Laureate Gebisa Ejeta for a question and answer session focused on agricultural development in Africa. The Gates Foundation used the occasion to announce nine new projects totaling $120 million. Video and transcript available here. |
| Video, transcripts from 2009 Borlaug Dialogue online now |
 Video and transcripts from the 2009 Borlaug Dialogue are now available online. See presentations from Bill Gates, Indra Nooyi, Jeffrey Sachs, Tom Vilsack, Joaquim Chissano, several international agricultural ministers and UN agency heads and many more, as well as roundtable discussions surrounding this year's theme of "Food, Agriculture and National Security in a Globalized World." |
World Food Prize Foundation takes possession of former library building, dedicates Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates
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 On November 16, the World Food Prize Foundation signed a 100-year lease on the former Des Moines Public Library building, the final step in assuming ownership of what is now known as the Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates.
A month earlier, over 400 friends and admirers of Dr. Borlaug were on hand to celebrate Dr. Borlaug's life as the $29.8 million Hall of Laureates was dedicated in his honor. |
| Global Youth Institute hosts record number of students |
The 2009 World Food Prize Global Youth Institute involved a record number of high school participants to date. The World Food Prize hosted 115 high school student-teacher teams from Iowa and 15 other states as well as students from Afghanistan, Kosovo, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Tanzania and Turkmenistan.
In addition to attending Borlaug Dialogue sessions, students teamed up with Outreach Africa to package 15,000 meals to send to Tanzania, toured Des Moines University's global health and medical facilities and took part in a Hunger Banquet (which simulated the unequal distribution of food worldwide).
On Saturday, October 17 - the culminating day of the Youth Institute - high school student participants spent the day discussing essays they wrote on the critical topic "National Responses to Food Insecurity" with over 40 renowned global food security experts including World Food Prize Laureates and Council Members. Review the Global Youth Institute Proceedings here. |
| Laureate Spotlight: Gurdev Khush |
 The World Food Prize Foundation periodically takes a look back at the accomplishments and impacts of previous World Food Prize Laureates.
In this edition, we focus on 1996 Laureate Gurdev Khush, a rice breeder who developed the most widely planted food crop ever grown. Read about Dr. Khush here. |
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| Dr. Gebisa Ejeta receives 2009 World Food Prize, praise from home country |
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Following the presentation of the 2009 World Food Prize, Dr. Gebisa Ejeta receives hero's welcome in native Ethiopia
Less than a month after receiving the 2009 World Food Prize, Dr. Gebisa Ejeta has received his home country's top honor.
Ethiopian President Ato Girma Woldegiorgis has awarded Dr. Ejeta the National Hero Award, calling him "an Ethiopian champion whose prize is a commitment to others."
It was the first time the nation's highest honor has been given to an Ethiopian for work in science and technology.
In response to the National Hero Award, Dr. Ejeta announced that he will use his $250,000 World Food Prize to establish an educational foundation aimed at assisting Ethiopian and other African children.
While in Ethiopia, Dr. Ejeta also met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who pledged his support to help Dr. Ejeta strengthen Ethiopia's agricultural sector.
MORE ON DR. EJETA:
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