Drake University

2011 Innovation & Leadership Conference

Friday, January 14, 2011
Olmsted Center

Theme: Food Policy, Social Justice, Hunger and Sustainability - A Cross-National Perspective
 

The 5th annual Innovation and Leadership Conference will be held on Friday, January 14, 2011 at the College of Business and Public Administration, Aliber Hall, Drake University.  The conference theme is “Food Policy, Social Justice, Hunger and Sustainability—A Cross-National Perspective,” and will highlight the complex inter-relations between the methods of food production, energy consumption, environmental sustainability, healthy eating and the competing philosophies on how best to enhance and protect today’s global food systems.

Panel sessions will feature presenters who are directly involved in food policy issues at the “grassroots” level and at the regional and national levels in production, research, teaching, and advocacy.  The conference represents a balanced approach to the pros and cons associated with topics as varied as how food systems effect our health and environment, Iowa’s role in feeding the world—from the farmer’s perspective—to food security and justice issues and the competing technological, scientific and global economic and political issues which effect food and agricultural policy.

Food security and justice issues are receiving heightened consideration as food scarcity continues to plague many areas of the planet and how food policy has become a contentious issue from an ideological and scientific perspective.  It is important to note, that in the “cradle” of food production prowess, nearly 15 percent of Iowans are faced with food insecurity, and about 800 million people worldwide are hungry and chronically undernourished.  Thus the question remains:  Is access to food a right or privilege? And what role should we as consumers have on how food is produced, packaged, and marketed in our economies and communities.

The conference begins with an all-conference introductory session that sets the stage for conversation featuring concurrent panel sessions.  Following the morning sessions there will be an all-conference lunch featuring Professor Neil Hamilton, Dwight D. Opperman Chair of Law and Professor of Law & Director, Agricultural Law Center. The afternoon features a return to concurrent sessions followed by a concluding “all-conference session” that brings perspective to the day’s discussions and experiences.  A complete list of speakers including a detailed schedule will be posted in early January.

The conference should be of interest to anyone concerned with how societies develop policies that impact the quality, availability and sustainability of a safe and healthy food supply.

Check-in begins at 8:30 am, first floor, Aliber Hall.  The registration fee is $30 payable by check or cash the day of the conference which covers attendance, conference materials, plus lunch.

For more information and to secure a seat for the day through on-line reservation, please visit our website: www.cbpa.drake.edu/cps

Drake University
College of Business and Public Administration
Center for Professional Studies
2507 University Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 271-2592

To register please click here: conferenceregistration2011

Please click here to find the conference program: program2011