The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) hosted a moving and memorable ceremony this morning honoring Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn with the 2025 CAST Lifetime Achievement Award, held as an official side event of the World Food Prize week in Des Moines. The event brought together global leaders, scientists, and distinguished guests to celebrate a lifetime dedicated to advancing peace and progress through agricultural science and technology.
The program highlighted the deep personal and professional connections that have shaped CAST’s mission and the broader agricultural community. Dr. Jack Bobo, Executive Director of the Rothman Family Institute for Food Studies at UCLA and recipient of the 2024 Borlaug CAST Communication Award, shared heartfelt reflections on his personal and professional ties with Ambassador Quinn, becoming visibly emotional as he recalled their shared commitment to science diplomacy and global collaboration.
Julie Borlaug, granddaughter of Dr. Norman Borlaug, spoke about her grandfather’s enduring friendship with Quinn and the lasting impact of their collaboration on global food security. Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who nominated Ambassador Quinn for the award, was unable to attend in person, but Sherrill Whisenand of the Branstad Churchill Group delivered moving remarks from the heart about Quinn’s impact and their friendship, emphasizing how both he and Branstad shared a lifelong dedication to service and agricultural advancement.
CAST CEO Dr. Chris Boomsma reflected on the significance of holding the ceremony during the World Food Prize events, noting that just as the World Food Prize represents the pinnacle of global recognition in food and agriculture, CAST’s award honors individuals whose lifelong efforts have advanced agricultural science and communication.
Ambassador Quinn delivered a keynote address titled “Peace Through Agricultural Science and Technology,” offering a powerful narrative that intertwined his personal journey and professional milestones—from his early experiences in Vietnam to his collaboration with Norman Borlaug and his work promoting global agricultural development. He spoke of how science and technology can serve as pathways to peace, emphasizing that bringing innovation to farmers and empowering rural communities can bridge divides between nations. He closed by calling on the next generation to carry forward the same spirit of passion, purpose, and service that has defined the agricultural community’s greatest achievements.
The 2025 CAST Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony was made possible through the generous support of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Cotton Incorporated, CropLife America, and Dairy Management Inc.
The event underscored CAST’s ongoing mission to connect science, policy, and practice in pursuit of a more sustainable and peaceful world—continuing the legacy of leaders like Quinn and Borlaug who have demonstrated that science truly feeds tomorrow.
