On the Right Road

REFLECTING ON 20 YEARS LEADING THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE FOUNDATION

BY LAUREN HOUSKA

Kenneth M. Quinn assumed leadership of the World Food Prize Foundation nearly 20 years ago. The Dubuque transplant had previously spent 32 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, serving in many roles, including as the U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia. Now set to retire, Quinn sat down with the Iowa Soybean Association to reflect on his career and share his hopes for the future.

Quinn sits in the Iowa Gallery at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates. Behind him, a mural painted by Iowa artist Gary Kelley depicts Iowa agriculture leaders throughout history.

Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Soybean Association

What connected you with Norman Borlaug?

The paths we took in life have many similarities. We both left Iowa to work in remote villages across the world. Though educated in different disciplines — Borlaug a scientist while I was a diplomat — we both had an incredible passion for rural development and lifting people out of poverty. In the mid-60s, Borlaug was working on revolutionizing wheat production amid political turmoil in India and Pakistan. At the same time, I was a brand-new U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officer. I was working in villages in Sa Dec province of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War and the beginnings of the Green Revolution in rice.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned in your career?

I like to say I was a footsoldier in the Green Revolution. I saw it all from the very beginning. While working in these South Vietnam villages, we were improving an old, nearly unnavigable farm-to-market road the French built in colonial times. I learned the lesson of my life during this time: The combination of improved roads and agricultural technology has the power to be economically, socially and politically transformative.

It was only where the road had been improved that farmers used the new seed technology. And when they had those seeds, everything changed, almost within a year. We observed improved homes and better clothing, nutrition and education for children, a decreased child mortality rate and more. When I finally met Borlaug and told him this story about roads, he exclaimed, “You’re absolutely right! You can grow all the food you want, but if you don’t have a road to get it to market, it’s all wasted.” This is what bonded us together — the understanding of the importance of roads.

How does that lesson relate to Iowa and American agriculture?

There I was, 12,000 miles from Iowa, when I perceived what had transformed Iowa and the Midwest. It was the combination of building all our farm-to-market roads, the extension workers from Iowa State University, the agricultural businesses and researchers. These things transformed our state and nation into the agricultural powerhouse it is today.

Unfortunately, this is also the lesson most of America has forgotten. One of the great achievements of our country is the amazing agricultural food production. When I started this job, I was stunned that almost no one knew who Borlaug was or his incredible legacy. I thought, 'if I don’t do anything else in this role, it will be my goal to make Norman Borlaug into the hero he deserves to be in Iowa, in America and around the world.'

Can we produce enough food to feed 9 billion people?

No, not without innovation. Breakthroughs in science will come from investment in research. If investment in agricultural research in the U.S. holds steady, that means it’s decreasing. We have been the leaders of global food production for at least a century. We have created the best agricultural research system human beings have ever put in place. But if we don’t invest in agricultural research, the real question is: In 2046, when Iowa celebrates its bicentennial of statehood, will another country have replaced America as the global leader in agriculture?

Ambassador Kenneth Quinn’s years of service were recently honored with a bust.

Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Soybean Association

How do you hope to see the World Food Prize Foundation continue to evolve?

The centerpiece is the ceremony presenting the World Food Prize each October at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. Our Borlaug Dialogue Conference can become the Davos (World Economic Forum) of global agriculture. We have grown our youth program tremendously, having hosted more than 200 students from 30 U.S. states and 10 foreign countries this year. So, with these three pillars in place, we can elevate the World Food Prize into an enormous element highlighting Des Moines and Iowa as the center of global agriculture.

My dream, my vision, is that leaders of farm commodity organizations, agriculture businesses and the Greater Des Moines Partnership along with state legislators, the governor and other leaders in agriculture come together and say, “Ambassador Quinn has given us this moment, this opportunity. What are we going to do as a community and a state to carry this forward?” We have an opportunity here. If we embrace and continue to build it, it can become the annual event that inspires the next generation to do more, do better.

Norman E. Borlaug: Father of the Green Revolution

The mural behind Quinn (first photo in story) depicts Iowa agriculture leaders throughout history sitting on Norman Borlaug's front porch in Howard County. Borlaug stands to the left, welcoming them to his home.

Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Soybean Association

A Cresco native, Dr. Norman E. Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work in developing varieties of cereal grains that would produce high yields in developing countries. He is credited with saving more than 1 billion lives. Borlaug envisioned a prize that would honor those who have made significant and measurable contributions to improving the world's food supply. His vision came to life when he founded the World Food Prize in 1986. This year marks 10 years since Borlaug’s death.

Contact Lauren Houska at lhouska@iasoybeans.com.

View more art from the Iowa Gallery: https://youtu.be/0NUFNttB4eY