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Specialties
The beautiful World Food Prize Hall of Laureates showcases and celebrates both Iowa’s incredible history and cultures around the globe, through breathtaking architecture, artwork and interactive exhibits. Free expert-guided or self-guided tours are available each week.
The World Food Prize is known as the «Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture» and its headquarters in the historic Des Moines Public Library building has been beautifully transformed into a world-class museum and exhibit space. Highlights include the Iowa Gallery, Howard G. Buffett’s international photography display, and excellent interactive exhibits on food and related issues around the globe.
Individual rooms or the entire historic building are also available to rent for your own special events.
History
Established in 1986.
The World Food Prize is the foremost international award recognizing breakthroughs in enhancing the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. It is regarded as the «Nobel Prize of Food and Agriculture» and was founded by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and agricultural scientist Dr. Norman Borlaug. The Foundation annually hosts the premier conference in the world on food and agriculture, and also coordinates a wide array of education and internship programs for high school and college students.
Its headquarters, the Hall of Laureates, is located in the historic Des Moines Public Library on the Downtown Riverwalk, which was built in 1900 and is on the National Register of Historic Places; it has also achieved the rare LEED Platinum green building certification. Today, the Hall is a world-class museum and event space celebrating and showcasing Iowa’s incredible history as well as cultures around the globe, through breathtaking architecture, artwork and interactive exhibits