Press and Media Partner Registration Now Open for the 2026 World Food Prize Week of Events

Press and media partner registration for the 2026 World Food Prize Week of Events held October 20-22, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa, is now open as the 40th anniversary of World Food Prize is celebrated. During this milestone year, the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue will convene a diverse array of international leaders, experts and scientists to discuss and address critical issues facing global food security.

Members of the media can apply for press credentials HERE. Select speakers will be available for private interviews with onsite press. Details will be provided to in-person press who have registered.

The 2026 Borlaug Dialogue will convene under the theme Before Hunger Wins, marking a conclusive moment for the future of global food security. Safe, nutritious and reliable food is not a given- it requires sustained commitment, adequate resources, cutting-edge innovation, resilient systems and real accountability. The choices we make today, impact who eats tomorrow. Before hunger wins, we must. At the Borlaug Dialogue, leaders and innovators will chart solutions, share knowledge and inspire the next generation of hunger fighters.

The 2026 World Food Prize Week of Events consists of the Borlaug Dialogue, the Laureate Award Ceremony, the Global Youth Institute, the presentation of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation, a dozen side events, exhibitor booths, Deep Dives at the Dialogue as well as networking opportunities with scientists, business owners, government officials and policy makers.

Press and media should indicate which events they are interested in covering on the registration form.

Bloggers are invited to apply in advance to cover the event as media partners, granting the same event access as accredited press. For application details, please contact Zach Clemens at [email protected]. For security purposes, space is limited. To guarantee entry, bloggers should register for the event ahead of time.

Highlighted speakers for the event include:

• H.S.H. Princess Tatjana of Liechtenstein | Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of the Liechtenstein Group
• Nicholas Offerman | Author, Actor and Humorist
• Hon. Eric Opoku | Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Republic of Ghana
• Hon. J. Alexander Nuetah | Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Liberia
• Matías Badano | 2025 Innovate for Impact Winner, CEO and Co-Founder, APOLO Biotech
• David Beckmann | 2010 World Food Prize Laureate, Coordinator, Circle of Protection
• Mary Beth | Executive Director, The Berry Center
• Sharon Burke | Chief Engagement Officer, CIMMYT
• Han Chen | 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer, Co-founder and CEO, ZeaKal
• Viviana Clavijo | CEO, SciPhage
• H . E. Hailemariam Dessalegn | Board Chair, AGRA
• Tej Dhawan | Managing Director, Plains Angels and 2946 Venture
• Qu Dongyu | Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization at United Nations
• Cary Fowler | 2024 World Food Prize Laureate and President, Food Security Leadership Council
• Jeff Frank | Farmer and District 4 Director, Iowa Soybean Association Board of Directors
• Travis Frey | Chief Technology Officer, Pivot Bio
• Linda Funk | Executive Director, The Soyfoods Council
• Neal Gutterson | Partner and Chief Technology Officer, Radicle Growth
• Lawrence Haddad | 2018 World Food Prize Laureate and Executive Director, The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
• April Hemmes | Farmer and Owner-Operator, Hemmes Farms
• Han Chen | 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer, Co-Founder and CEO, ZeaKal
• Muhammad Ibrahim | Director General, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
• Michele Kaiser | Director of Tech Commerce, John Deere
• Fusako Kira | CEO, Marukin Foods Co., B-GENKI Co. and CrossFit Kumamoto Co.
• Anil Jain | Vice Chairman and CEO, Jain Irrigation Systems
• Rachel Ruan McLean | Vice Chair, World Food Prize Foundation Board of Directors
• Kay Kuenker | Member, World Food Prize Foundation Council of Advisors and Board Chair, AgriTec Venture Corporation
• Huub Lelieveld | 2026 World Food Prize Laureate and Founder, Global Harmonization Initiative
• Kris Lutt | Vice President of Innovation and Growth, ADM
• Marcus Meadows-Smith | CEO, BioConsortia
• Muneerah Merchant | CEO, Aga Khan Foundation USA
• Ana Nelson | Executive Director at Food Security Leadership Council
• Chris Nelson | 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer and President and CEO, Kemin
• Paul Newnham | 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer and CEO, SDG2 Advocacy Hub
• Judd O'Connor | Executive Vice President, Seed Business Unit, Corteva Agriscience
• Giles Oldroyd | 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer and President, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
• Ruth Oniang'o | Founder and Editor-in-Chief, African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development
• James Rebanks | Farmer and Writer, Racy Ghyll Farm
• Alice Ruhweza | President, AGRA
• Edgar Sandoval | President and CEO, World Vision
• Paul Schickler | Chair, World Food Prize Foundation Board of Directors and Owner, III Ag
• Adnan Sharif | President and Co-founder, Lyrata Inc.
• Bella Giselly Torres Alves | CEO and Co-founder, Biotech4life Solutions
• Laura Turner Seydel | Chair, Turner Foundation
• Henk van Duijn | President and CEO, International Fertilizer Development Center
• Adolfo Vidal Ruiz | Co-founder at CeluNova
• Tom Vilsack | CEO, World Food Prize Foundation
• Jason Wargent | 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer and Founder and Chief Science Officer, BioLumic
• Kaylee Williams | Venture Capitalist and Entrepreneur
• Michael Werz | Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
• Roger Thurow | Journalist and Author