Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Speak at Annual World Food Prize Laureate Announcement Today

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Speak at Annual World Food Prize Laureate Announcement Today

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2011—TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will speak at the annual World Food Prize Laureate Announcement at the State Department in Washington. The event is hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, the president of the World Food Prize Foundation, will announce the winner of the 2011 World Food Prize during the ceremony. USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Robert Hormats will also speak at the event.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the World Food Prize, which recognizes individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. The World Food Prize includes a cash award of $250,000 and a sculpture by world-renowned designer Saul Bass. Each year more than 4,000 institutions and organizations are invited to nominate candidates for the prize.

The award will be formally presented in a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 13, 2011 in conjunction with the Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium. In honor of World Food Prize founder Dr. Norman Borlaug, this year’s October events will also include the Grand Opening of the Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates, an educational center and place to honor all those who have made strides in the fight against hunger.