Samia leaves for US to attend Borlaug dialogue
DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan left the country on Tuesday for Des Moines, the capital city of Iowa in the US, to attend the Norman E Borlaug International Dialogue organised by the World Food Prize Foundation.
The Borlaug Dialogue is being held annually and attended by world leaders, policy makers and experts in development, agriculture, economic policy, resource management and nutrition.
The dialogue aims to address global food availability challenges intensified by climate change.
President Samia is one of four African Heads of State invited to participate in the dialogue themed “Seeds of Opportunity: Bridging Generations and Cultivating Diplomacy.” Other participating leaders include the Presidents of Sierra Leone, Madagascar and Nigeria.
The theme emphasises the vital role of integrating past wisdom, current innovations and the pressing needs of tomorrow, by leveraging agricultural technology to address contemporary challenges. It underscores the importance of intergenerational collaboration and diplomatic engagement in achieving sustainable solutions.
In addition to participating in the dialogue, President Samia will attend the 2024 World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony, which honours individuals who have advanced human development by enhancing the quality, quantity, or availability of food worldwide.
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The award commemorates Dr Norman E. Borlaug, whose initiatives led to significant agricultural advancements.
She will also hold roundtable discussion with US government and private sector leaders especially those from the agricultural sector with focus being on investment in the sector and value addition in agricultural chain which has great contribution in economic growth and poverty alleviation.
According to World Food Prize Foundation by uniting diverse stakeholders — from the heart of farming communities to the heights of corporate boardrooms, from the impassioned voices of youths to the seasoned wisdom of established experts — they strive to nurture fertile ground for innovation, collaboration and opportunity.
Dr Norman E. Borlaug, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work in global agriculture, envisioned a prize that would honour those who have made significant and measurable contributions to improving the world’s food supply.
Beyond recognising the people for their personal accomplishments, Borlaug saw the prize as a means of establishing role models who would inspire others. His vision was realised when The World Food Prize was created in 1986 with sponsorship by General Foods Corporation.
Since then, the World Food Prize has honoured outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions to improving the quality, quantity, or availability of food throughout the world.
Laureates have been recognised from countries around the world, including Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Denmark, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Israel, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Uganda, United Kingdom, the United Nations and the United States.
