"The World Food Prize was established by Iowa native Norman Borlaug, who won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for helping increase food production in developing nations with the use of hybrid crops." Borlaug is known as the father of the "Green Revolution."
Kofi Annan, former U.S. Secretary General, will give the keynote address today when the foundation gives its prize to the presidents of Heifer International and Bread for the World "in recognition of their efforts to fight hunger. Heifer international provides families with food- and income-producing animals, such as sheep, while Bread for the World presses U.S. lawmakers to support anti-hunger policies."
The goal of the conferences is to find ways to provide small-scale farmers with technology so that they can grow food for others in their respective countries instead of only being able to grow food for themselves. This is a complicated issue, however, because according to Howard Buffett, "Western-style farming, which relies heavily on expensive fertilizers and equipment, may not work in poor countries."
Jeff Raikes, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, "said a combination of high-tech and low-tech solutions are needed to help" small-scale farmers. Drought resistant varieties of corn and flood resistant varieties of rice and a triple-layer storage bag for cowpeas are examples of these high and low tech solutions.
To read the Associated Press story, click here.
Posted: 10/14/2010
