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K-State Today

October 18, 2013

K-State celebrates World Food Day

Submitted by Elaine Edwards

President Kirk Schulz and Provost April Mason declared Wednesday, Oct. 16, as World Food Day at Kansas State University. To commemorate the day, several events and news stories were featured, including:

  • Noted scientist and biographer Noel Vietmeyer was a featured speaker in three public presentations on campus to commemorate World Food Day. Vietmeyer published the biography of Norman Borlaug, a plant scientist whose improvements in wheat varieties and crop management in the late 20th century is said to have saved 1 billion lives.
  • John Floros, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension, was featured in news stories and video interviews on World Food Day. He discussed how improving technology in developing countries is as important as preventing food waste in developed countries, including the United States, where the food loss mostly happens at the end of the system in restaurants, grocery stores and in consumers’ homes. About one-third of food produced in developed countries is wasted.
  • A video news package featuring Floros on food losses and feeding the projected 9 billion world citizens was delivered to all broadcast media outlets around the country.
  • An article outlined how consumers can prevent food losses featured information from Mary Meck Higgins, associate professor and extension specialist in the department of human nutrition at Kansas State University.
  • Dean Floros also contributed to an op-ed, co-authored by nine college of agriculture deans about World Food Day. The op-ed appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.