Spring Break
Prabhu Pingali of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation speaks at OSU Friday
Seminar discusses agricultural development, organization's work to solve chronic hunger, poverty
Shyna Gill
Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: News
Prabhu Pingali, deputy director of Agricultural Policy and Statistics for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, visited OSU on Friday to give a seminar on the work the non-profit organization is currently developing toward solving chronic hunger and poverty through agricultural development.
"All lives have equal value," Pingali said. This is the mission statement of the foundation and a statement that was echoed by Pingali throughout the seminar, which was held in the MU.
Pingali explained how the Gates' earned their fortune through Microsoft, and how they initially created the foundation to improve schools in the United States but have since expanded to improve the world's health.
"They felt they needed to share their good fortune," Pingali said.
Pingali presented a slideshow to accompany his lecture on what the Gates' hope to achieve in solving world hunger and poverty issues. He said that agriculture-based growth in poor countries is most effective at solving poverty.
"We need a clear pathway out of poverty," Pingali said. "Agriculture pathways would reduce poverty."
Pingali also said that one of the foundation's main goals is funding technology and science advancements in hopes of gaining results. He said that their office in Seattle is staffed by a small number of individuals, and most of their work involves granting money to projects that they believe will fulfill these goals.
"Our job is to make grants for serious work," Pingali said. "Our focus is on partnerships."
He said that one of the decisions they made early in the development of the foundation's agriculture department was to improve data information gathered across all countries. The foundation has examined evidence related to agriculture growth and its possibilities, especially in Sub-Sahara Africa. According to Pingali, in comparison to the rest of the world, this region needs the most support.
The foundation believes farm income in these countries would be improved with science and technology advancements, increased farm productivity and market access.
"All lives have equal value," Pingali said. This is the mission statement of the foundation and a statement that was echoed by Pingali throughout the seminar, which was held in the MU.
Pingali explained how the Gates' earned their fortune through Microsoft, and how they initially created the foundation to improve schools in the United States but have since expanded to improve the world's health.
"They felt they needed to share their good fortune," Pingali said.
Pingali presented a slideshow to accompany his lecture on what the Gates' hope to achieve in solving world hunger and poverty issues. He said that agriculture-based growth in poor countries is most effective at solving poverty.
"We need a clear pathway out of poverty," Pingali said. "Agriculture pathways would reduce poverty."
Pingali also said that one of the foundation's main goals is funding technology and science advancements in hopes of gaining results. He said that their office in Seattle is staffed by a small number of individuals, and most of their work involves granting money to projects that they believe will fulfill these goals.
"Our job is to make grants for serious work," Pingali said. "Our focus is on partnerships."
He said that one of the decisions they made early in the development of the foundation's agriculture department was to improve data information gathered across all countries. The foundation has examined evidence related to agriculture growth and its possibilities, especially in Sub-Sahara Africa. According to Pingali, in comparison to the rest of the world, this region needs the most support.
The foundation believes farm income in these countries would be improved with science and technology advancements, increased farm productivity and market access.
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