Iowa Farm Bureau, Farm Bureau Financial Services Pledge Continued Support of Iowa Hunger Summit and Focus on Food Security for All

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – October 10, 2016 – Iowa farmers, global leaders in farming innovation, who lead the nation in many types of food production, are troubled to hear one in eight Iowans today struggle to put healthy meals on the family table, because they are classified as ‘food insecure.’  The USDA defines food insecurity as the lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members, or limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods.  The October 10 Iowa Hunger Summit, now in its sixth year of sponsorship by Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and Farm Bureau Financial Services (FBFS), is dedicated to ending food insecurity and Iowa farmers play an integral role as hunger fighters working to combat food insecurity and hunger.    

“Farmers remain committed to providing a variety of healthy, safe food choices for consumers,” says IFBF President Craig Hill.  “Embracing farming innovation the way that Iowa farmer and ‘Grandfather of the Green Revolution,’ Norman Borlaug, taught us helps farmers grow more food options while conserving resources.  This innovation is essential if we are to meet the nutrition needs now and in the future.”

The most recent Iowa Farm Bureau Food and Farm Indextm, conducted this summer, found an overwhelming majority of Iowa grocery shoppers (84%) say it’s important that farmers have the flexibility to use a variety of farming practices to provide choices and price options at the grocery store.  The results demonstrated that Iowa consumers support diverse farming practices and innovation to provide choices and options for consumers, while being more productive to feed those in need.   

 “Many like Iowa Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Financial Services recognize that the need is crucial,” says Hill.  “With over 700 attendees at last year’s Iowa Hunger Summit, we hope even more people will take this opportunity to remember those less fortunate, and the choices they lack, when it comes to putting food on the table and continue to support innovation to help combat it.”

“We are pleased and honored to join Iowa Farm Bureau in the fight against food insecurity as presenting sponsors of the World Food Prize organization’s Iowa Hunger Summit,” says Farm Bureau Financial Services CEO James P. Brannen. Collectively, we’ll use this platform to educate, inform and keep the spotlight shining brightly on issues related to food insecurity right here in the heartland and around the world.”

The Iowa Hunger Summit will be held October 10 at the downtown Des Moines Marriott from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public.  For more information about the Iowa Hunger Summit and to register for the event, go to the World Food Prize website at https://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/events/iowa_hunger_summit/plan_to_attend/.