Global Farmer Roundtable
How do you feed a growing world population that is expected to increase by 2.6 billion people by 2050? And you must accomplish this by using resources like water and fertilizer more efficiently while protecting the environment. The world’s farmers are central to meeting these growing food and nutritional needs in a sustainable manner. It’s a daunting challenge but not out of reach.
Global food demand will require that farmers everywhere have access to the technologies, tools and strategies they need to maximize their productivity and fill the food gap of a growing population. Farmers –engaged as full partners with all stakeholders – can innovate to meet the world’s needs.
The Global Farmer Roundtable, held each October as an invitation-only side event of the World Food Prize Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa, gathers farmers from around the world to discuss the current issues in food production. Dr. Norman Borlaug, father of the Green Revolution, challenged the world’s farmers to collaborate – learning from each other by sharing their collective experiences, wisdom and knowledge. He reminded all of us that the “successful revolutions of the past can be templates for our actions and a resource to maintain our morale.”
In that spirit, the Global Farmer Roundtable features a facilitated dialogue among global farmers to better understand and address the challenges of filling an increasing food and nutritional security gap. Through dialogue and time spent together they discover commonalities, share their challenges, discuss tools, technologies and strategies that can be adopted to meet these challenges, and are empowered to meet the demands of closing the food gap through shared work, message and mission.
The 2013 TATT Global Farmer Roundtable is scheduled to be held October 15 and 16, 2012 in Des Moines, Iowa. The World Food Prize and Borlaug Dialogue is scheduled for October 16-19, 2013.
Nominations are open for the 2013 Global Farmer Roundtable. To nominate a farmer or yourself, please follow the link below. Please note that all nominees must be actively engaged in food production. The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, June 23, 2013.
Click here to sign up or nominate someone you know for the 2013 Global Farmer Roundtable
*TATT and the World Food Prize are separate organizations. Information about the World Food Prize can be found at that organizations’ website – please visit their website to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Here are some general questions and answers to help give an overview of things to think about for potential participants.
Q: What is the TATT Global Farmer Roundtable?
A: Approximately 20 farmers from various backgrounds and cultures who are invited to gather and discuss agricultural trade and technology access issues, and then continue to be part of a global network of producers.
Q: Who is invited?
A: Those invited have been both small and large scale producers from six continents. Invitees have demonstrated leadership at their local level or beyond, and the desire to expand the TATT global network of producers. English language skills are necessary.
Q: What does it cost to attend?
A: TATT provides the airline ticket, hotel reservation, and registration cost for the World Food Prize – this includes many but not all meals. Those attending are responsible for other meals and personal costs, including charges made to their hotel room. There is no funding for “out of pocket” or personal expenses.
Q: How long does it take?
A: Depending on distance, be prepared to take a week of time to travel to and from Des Moines. Most attendees in the past have arrived in Des Moines on Monday and departed on Friday, depending on available flights.
Q: What is the weather like and what clothes are needed?
A: Averages 44-64 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5-17.5 Celsius) during October but the weather can vary greatly. Most time is indoors, but a light to medium weight jacket may be helpful while outdoors. Meetings are business casual, the WFP ceremony and dinner is more business formal (suit or jacket for men, nice dress or outfit for women) and it is attended by people from over 50 nations so appropriate cultural clothing is fine.
Please note: It is important that the contact information be complete and accurate for both the nominee and nominator. International correspondence and travel can be difficult, and incomplete or inaccurate information may prevent us from making contact with nominees, or in helping with visa and travel arrangements. Because of time differences, email tends to be the easiest form of contact and is preferred. If you have questions, please write, telephone, fax, or e-mail Truth About Trade & Technology using the contact information below: Courtesy Truth About Trade & Technology