Food Security at 2026 World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue
Pivot Bio, one of the world’s leading agricultural technology companies, is strengthening discussions around the future of agriculture, global food security and sustainable farming through its participation in the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue. Hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation, the annual gathering brings together leaders from agriculture, science, business, technology and humanitarian development to address critical challenges facing the global food system.
For the second consecutive year, Pivot Bio is supporting the Innovate for Impact Challenge, an initiative focused on accelerating breakthrough agricultural technologies that can help address global food security and sustainability challenges. The company’s continued participation reflects its commitment to scientific innovation, emerging technology developers and practical solutions that support farmers and agricultural communities worldwide.
Through its involvement in the Dialogue, Pivot Bio is helping advance conversations about how innovation can strengthen agricultural resilience and improve the ability of farmers and communities to respond to increasingly complex challenges. The company emphasizes that agricultural progress must be measured by its ability to deliver meaningful benefits on farms, where producers face growing demands to improve productivity while managing limited resources and changing environmental conditions.
Pivot Bio CTO Leads Discussion on Global Water Challenges
A central part of Pivot Bio’s participation in the 2026 Borlaug Dialogue was a panel discussion led by Chief Technology Officer Travis Frey, Ph.D. Titled “What If the Water Runs Out?”, the session examined the growing importance of water resilience and the strategies needed to help agriculture and communities adapt to increasingly unpredictable water availability.
The discussion brought together experts representing agricultural technology, irrigation systems, sustainability partnerships, investment and humanitarian development. Panelists explored how collaboration among these sectors could help develop and implement solutions that improve water management, expand access to essential resources and strengthen food systems.
Water availability is a critical factor in agricultural productivity. Farmers depend on reliable water supplies to grow crops, maintain production and support the communities and businesses connected to agriculture. As water resources become less predictable in many regions, developing effective approaches to water conservation, purification, infrastructure and access has become increasingly important.
The panel considered how technological advances and coordinated investment could help communities respond to these challenges. Participants also discussed the importance of ensuring that promising innovations move beyond research and development to become practical, accessible solutions that farmers and communities can implement.
“The challenges facing agriculture are too big for any one industry or organization to solve alone,” Frey said. “That’s why conversations like the Borlaug Dialogue are so important. They bring different perspectives together around a shared goal of strengthening our food systems and accelerating the innovation needed to sustainably feed a growing world.”
Frey’s role as facilitator helped connect water management and agricultural productivity with broader community needs. The discussion highlighted how water-related challenges vary across regions and why solutions must account for local conditions, economic realities and the resources available to farmers.
The panel also examined the role of investment and infrastructure in making technologies more widely available. Even when an innovation demonstrates strong potential, its broader adoption can depend on whether farmers and communities can afford it, access the necessary infrastructure and establish partnerships that support long-term implementation.
Leaders Share Perspectives on Water Resilience
Frey was joined by three leaders bringing complementary perspectives to the discussion:
- Surender Makhija, Strategic Advisor at Jain Irrigation Systems, contributed an agricultural irrigation and water-management perspective.
- Edgar Sandoval, President and CEO of World Vision, brought experience from humanitarian development and community-focused initiatives.
- Amit Trikha, Vice President of Global Sustainability Partnerships & Strategy at Bayer AG, represented the sustainability and strategic partnership perspective.
Together, the panelists addressed the relationship between agricultural productivity, water availability, technology development and community resilience. Their discussion underscored the importance of connecting technical innovation with the financial, operational and social conditions that influence whether solutions can succeed.
Agricultural water challenges are not identical everywhere. Some communities face limited infrastructure, while others must manage changing water availability, competing demands or the cost of implementing more efficient systems. Addressing these differences requires solutions that can be adapted to local circumstances rather than relying on a single approach.
The conversation also highlighted the value of partnerships between technology providers, agricultural businesses, investors and development organizations. These relationships can help identify local needs, support the deployment of promising technologies and improve access to solutions that might otherwise remain out of reach for smaller or resource-constrained communities.
For agricultural technology companies, this approach reinforces the importance of developing innovations with farmers’ needs in mind. Technologies must not only demonstrate scientific potential but also offer practical advantages that producers can recognize in their day-to-day operations.
“The value of agricultural innovation is ultimately measured by what farmers can put into practice,” Frey said. “Farmers need solutions that work for their operations and make economic sense. We have to think about what it takes to put those solutions into practice, whether that’s demonstrating value, building the right partnerships or improving access to technology. That’s how we turn scientific progress into meaningful impact.”
His remarks emphasized that successful innovation involves more than developing new technologies. Demonstrating measurable value, establishing effective partnerships and improving accessibility are all important steps in translating scientific progress into practical agricultural benefits.
Supporting the Next Generation of Agricultural Innovation
Beyond the panel discussion, Pivot Bio is continuing to support emerging agricultural technology companies through its involvement in the Innovate for Impact Challenge. Presented by the World Food Prize Foundation and America’s Cultivation Corridor, the initiative seeks to recognize and advance early-stage companies developing technology-driven solutions to major food security and sustainability challenges.
Now in its second year of involvement, Pivot Bio is helping bring attention to innovators working on approaches that could contribute to a more productive, resilient and sustainable global food system.
Early-stage agricultural technology companies often work at the intersection of scientific research, engineering and practical farming needs. Their innovations may offer new ways to address resource constraints, improve agricultural efficiency or strengthen the resilience of food production systems. However, moving from an early-stage concept to broader commercial adoption can require technical validation, investment, industry partnerships and access to potential customers.
Initiatives such as the Innovate for Impact Challenge provide a platform for these companies to present their ideas, connect with industry leaders and demonstrate the potential impact of their technologies. The program also creates opportunities for established agricultural organizations to engage with new approaches and support the development of solutions that could benefit farmers and food systems.
As part of this year’s program, Frey will serve as a judge during the live pitch competition scheduled for Wednesday evening. He will join other industry leaders in evaluating the finalists and selecting the top three companies based on their innovations and potential impact.
The judging process will provide an opportunity to assess how participating companies approach major agricultural challenges, the potential value of their technologies and their ability to deliver meaningful outcomes. By focusing on both innovation and impact, the challenge aims to highlight solutions that can contribute to long-term progress in agriculture and global food security.
“Some of the most important breakthroughs in agriculture will come from bringing new ideas and different perspectives together,” Frey said. “Supporting emerging innovators is an investment in the future of agriculture and in the farm communities who will ultimately benefit from these discoveries.”
Pivot Bio’s continued participation demonstrates its interest in encouraging a broader innovation ecosystem in which emerging companies, established businesses, researchers and farmers can work together to address agricultural challenges.
Collaboration Remains Central to Global Food Security
The Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue serves as a global forum for examining the challenges and opportunities shaping food security, agricultural development and sustainability. The event brings together participants from different sectors and regions to discuss how research, investment, technology and international cooperation can contribute to a more resilient food system.
The 2026 gathering examined the risks facing global food systems and the importance of collaboration in developing effective responses. Topics such as water resilience, agricultural innovation and access to technology illustrate how interconnected the challenges facing food production have become.
For farmers, the ability to respond to these challenges depends on access to practical tools, reliable resources and technologies that fit their operations. For communities, long-term food security also depends on infrastructure, economic opportunities and partnerships that support the availability of essential resources.
Pivot Bio’s participation in the Dialogue and the Innovate for Impact Challenge reflects its focus on supporting scientific progress while keeping the needs of farmers and agricultural communities at the center of innovation.
By bringing together experienced industry leaders and emerging technology developers, the company is contributing to conversations about how new ideas can be transformed into solutions with practical value. The combination of cross-sector collaboration, investment in early-stage innovators and attention to farmers’ needs remains an important part of efforts to strengthen agricultural resilience.
As the global food system faces growing demands and resource-related challenges, initiatives that connect science, technology and practical implementation can help advance new approaches to sustainable food production. Pivot Bio’s continued engagement with the Borlaug Dialogue underscores the importance of working across industries to develop solutions capable of supporting farmers, strengthening communities and contributing to global food security.
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