The Stakes Could Not be Higher...A Global Call to Action

Today, the World Food Prize Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, hosted a Digital Dialogue, Hunger’s Tipping Point: An Urgent Call to Transform Food and Nutrition Security. This event marked the culmination of a global launch, which featured the release of the Laureate Call to Action signed by more than 150 Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates and a pivotal, in-person gathering in Washington, D.C. earlier this week.

This initiative is a resounding call to address the complex crises of climate change, conflict and systemic inequities that are pushing global food systems to the brink. As Mashal Husain, Chief Operating Officer of the World Food Prize Foundation, noted in her opening remarks, “We stand at a critical crossroads. This is not just about feeding billions by 2050; it’s about ensuring that every person, everywhere, has access to nutritious food. This effort demands nothing less than transformative, global collaboration.”

Insights from Global Leaders

The Digital Dialogue brought together thought leaders who emphasized the urgency of immediate action and the need for innovative solutions:

• Dr. Cary Fowler, 2024 World Food Prize Laureate, warned, “The convergence of climate change, soil degradation and water scarcity creates a perfect storm. Without transformational breakthroughs, food security will remain out of reach for the most vulnerable.”
• Dr. Brian Schmidt, 2011 Nobel Prize Laureate  in Physics, reflected, “The Green Revolution saved a billion lives, but Norman Borlaug himself warned it would buy us only 30 years. Those 30 years are long past. The time has come to aim higher—to create moonshot innovations in agricultural R&D.”
• Anna Nelson, Deputy Special Envoy for Global Food Security at the U.S. Department of State , stressed, “This is not about any one sector. Scientists, policymakers and private industry must work together to achieve the transformative change we need to secure our global food systems.”
• Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR , shared, “Our innovations are driven by a holistic vision—tackling the crises of today while laying the groundwork for transformative change over the next 50 years. Incremental improvements and ambitious moonshots are both essential.”
• Dr. Alberta Klein, CEO and Director General of the International Fertilizer Association, explained, “High-risk, high-reward innovations, like smarter fertilizers and circular solutions, will play a crucial role in building sustainable food systems. It’s time to align scientific breakthroughs with farmer needs and environmental stewardship.”
• H.E. Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, emphasized, “In the most arid regions of the world, food security is not just a challenge—it is a necessity. Innovations in water use, sustainable land management and waste reduction are vital to our national and global priorities.”
• Dr. Roy Steiner, Senior Vice President for the Food Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation , highlighted, “Agriculture has been undervalued for far too long. Less than 1% of the global economy is invested in agricultural R&D. To meet the challenges ahead, we must prioritize food system transformation at every level.”

The Call to Action

This dialogue was not merely a discussion but a launching pad for collective action. As Dr. Schmidt reminded the audience, “This isn’t about a single country or region. This is about everyone working together to create a sustainable and food-secure future for generations to come.”

The stakes could not be higher. Addressing these challenges requires global collaboration, bold investments and a commitment to leaving no one behind.

To learn more, read the Laureates’ Call to Action and discover how you can contribute to this critical movement, visit www.worldfoodprize.org/LaureateLetter.