Web exclusive posted March 10, 2009, at 3:23 p.m. CST

The Farm Foundation is soliciting policy ideas on global energy security, climate change and other topics. To gather the idea, the foundation announced March 5 it's hosting a contest, complete with cash prizes totaling $20,000. The competition is open to anyone with an interest in the public policy issues outlined in the Farm Foundation's report, "The 30-Year Challenge: Agriculture's Strategic Role in Feeding and Fueling a Growing World."

"It is not clear that today's public policies-designed to deal with issues of the last century-provide appropriate tools and incentives to address the challenges of the next 30 years," Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin said. "Farm Foundation is offering this competition as a catalyst for innovative ideas and approaches."

Released in December 2008, the Farm Foundation's 30-Year Challenge Report identified six major areas of challenges focused on agriculture's role and ability to provide food, feed, fiber and fuel to a growing world. The six areas are: global financial markets and recession; global food security; global energy security; climate change; competition for natural resources; and global economic development. The report highlighted key issues that public and private decision makers may need to consider as they confront the challenges of feeding a growing world.

"Finding the policies and strategies that will help us meet the 30-year challenge for agriculture will not be easy. There are no easy analyses or simple solutions," Conklin continues. "Farm Foundation is committed to fostering a constructive and deliberative debate of the policies that may be needed to meet the challenge." The 76-year-old foundation does not lobby or advocate as it seeks to provide objective information on issues shaping the future for agriculture, food systems and rural regions.

Entries in the Farm Foundation competition are due June 1. An independent three-member panel of judges will look at each of the six challenge areas. Prize winners will be announced in September.

The 30-Year Challenge project is directed and led by Farm Foundation. Contributing financial assistance to the project were: the Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Corn Growers Association, the National Pork Producers Council, and the United Egg Producers.

Details of the competition and entry process are available at the Farm Foundation Web site.