Key Takeaways
- The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has announced Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn as the first recipient of its new Lifetime Achievement Award.
- The award will be presented on October 22, 2025, during the World Food Prize events in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Quinn’s nearly 60-year career spans diplomacy, agricultural development, and leadership in food security.
- The award recognizes career-long contributions to agricultural science, technology, and communication.
- CAST introduced the Lifetime Achievement Award as part of its expanded recognition program.
CAST's Recognition of a Lifetime of Service
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has selected Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, President Emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation, as the inaugural recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award. The award ceremony will take place on October 22, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. in Des Moines, Iowa, during the World Food Prize events.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals whose career contributions have advanced agricultural science, technology, and communication in ways that have shaped the global food and agriculture landscape.
Ambassador Quinn’s Reflections
Ambassador Quinn described the honor as a fitting conclusion to his decades of service: “Having escorted Dr. Norman Borlaug to a CAST event 25 years ago, I know first-hand the deep respect and admiration he had for the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. I therefore wish to convey my deepest appreciation to CAST CEO Chris Boomsma, Board President Brandon Neuschafer, and all members of the CAST Board of Directors for the incomparable honor they have accorded me in selecting me as the inaugural recipient of the CAST Lifetime Achievement Award,” Quinn said.
He added: “From my very first Foreign Service assignment introducing IR8 ‘miracle rice’ in the Mekong Delta in 1968, to my leadership of the World Food Prize Foundation, agricultural science and technology have been the constant thread in my work. This award affirms the theme that has guided my life: peace through agricultural science and technology.”
Praise from Colleagues and CAST
Ambassador Terry Branstad, former U.S. Ambassador to China and longtime colleague, remarked: “It doesn’t surprise me at all that Ken Quinn is receiving this award. Anyone who comes in contact with Ken knows that his passion for life, combined with his expertise in world affairs, brings him to the forefront of what this Award is all about. I have known Ken for over 50 years, not only through public service but as a close personal friend. He can change our world, one handshake, one smile, and one day at a time. My wife, Chris, and I applaud him for being the recipient of this great honor.”
CAST CEO Dr. Chris Boomsma added: “Ambassador Kenneth Quinn’s lifelong dedication to advancing global food security, agricultural science, and international collaboration embodies the very ideals of CAST’s mission. His visionary leadership with the World Food Prize and his tireless efforts to bring science and diplomacy together have left an enduring mark on agriculture and society. It is a profound honor for CAST to recognize him with the organization’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating not only his remarkable career but also the inspiration he provides to future generations of leaders.”
