Global Health and Food Security:
Minnesota's Role in Global Development

9–9:30 a.m.

Opening/Framing Remarks

Dean J. Brian Atwood, Dean, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota and former Administrator, USAID

 9:30–11 a.m.

Panel Discussion on Global Health

Moderator:
Dr. J Steven Morrison, Director, Global Policy Center and Senior Vice President, CSIS

Panelists:
Mr. Alex Palacios, Special Representative, GAVI Alliance

Dr. Mike Osterholm, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

Trevor Gunn, Senior Director of International Relations, Medtronic

Key Issues:
Since the emergence of fast-spreading pandemic diseases, the strong impact of HIV/AIDS, and the pervasive problems of child malnutrition, malaria and tuberculosis, the world’s attention has been focused on global health issues. The United States government has engaged in an ambitious agenda to improve global public health, and has committed to provide billions more dollars to improve health worldwide. What is the current status of these efforts, and how are they integrated with the health problems that flow with immigration, travel and an increasingly interconnected world?

11 a.m.–
12:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion on Food Security and Agricultural Development

Moderator:
Dr. Professor Philip Pardey, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics

Panelists:
Dr. Katherine Kahn, Program Officer, Agricultural Development Initiative, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Ms. Johanna Nesseth, Vice President, Strategic Planning and Director, Global Food Security Project, CSIS

Mr. Tom Verdoorn, Vice President, International Development, Land O' Lakes

Dr. Robbin Johnson, Senior Adviser, Global Policy Studies, at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs (invited)

Key Issues:
In 2008, the food price spikes sparked riots around the world. High oil prices also increased demands for corn ethanol, placing greater strains on food supplies. The events of 2008 brought into focus that there has been a sharp shift in food supply and demand: food stocks were at a historic low, as demand for high-value foods like meat and dairy products increased due in part to China and India’s growing economies. In 2010, Russia’s export ban on wheat renewed fears of global food riots and price spikes. With a world population approaching 9 billion people, we face two important questions: first, how do we feed a growing global population without increasing the level of land and water we use; and second, how do we help a growing number of hungry people (now at one billion) move out of poverty by improving farming and agricultural methods in very poor countries?

12:30–2 p.m.

Luncheon Discussion on U.S. Development Agenda

Moderator:
Dean J. Brian Atwood, Dean, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota and former Administrator, USAID

Panelists:
Rep. Betty McCollum D-MN

Rep. Keith Ellison D-MN      

Representative from the Centers for Disease Control

Key Questions:
U.S. leadership: whose responsibility is it to respond to the overlapping domestic and international issues of global health and food security? What are some local Minnesota groups that have been involved in these issues? What can the members of the audience do to continue to bring together the private sector, the university, the government and community groups to tackle these problems?