One of the great challenges of the next generation will be providing nutritious, affordable food to a global population expected to grow to 9 billion by 2050 — while using fewer resources.

The urgency of keeping up affordable food to a global population cannot be overstated. In past years, academics, NGOs and governments from around the world have invested significant resources in adding dimension to this 2050 global food security challenge. Many spirited debates have addressed the intersection of responsibility within the issue, including the role of technology and innovation in meeting the needs of a hungry planet.

Today, we have an opportunity to “bring the issue home” and address domestic food security against the backdrop of this well-defined global debate by sponsoring a leadership event in Washington, D.C. that is co-hosted by The Washington Post and Slate. Here is Cheri Chase, Communications Director of the Idaho Dairy Products Commission: “The end goal of the event is to have a moment in time to advance the national conversation around food security and when we talk about food security what we are talking about is how are we going to feed a growing population on reduced amounts of food that are available or how are we going to make that food availability in an economical way to feed the population that is going to be continuing to grow?” This event will spark a balanced, inspirational conversation around solutions.