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2014 World Food Prize honors critical breakthroughs in wheat - Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram of India and Mexico worked hand-in-hand with Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug, and bred an
impressive 480 varieties of wheat to provide nutritious grains resistant to rust disease and adaptable in a vast array of climates to feed more people


Washington, D.C., USA
June 18, 2014

2012 World Food Prize LaureateU.S. Secretary of State John Kerry today applauded the selection of eminent wheat breeder Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram as the 2014 World Food Prize Laureate during an announcement ceremony at the State  Department where Secretary Kerry gave keynote remarks.

Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin hosted the World Food Prize Laureate Announcement Ceremony and World Food Prize Chairman John Ruan III participated, as well.

In announcing the name of the 2014 Laureate, Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, President of the World Food Prize, noted how highly appropriate it is to honor Dr. Rajaram – born in India and a citizen of Mexico – during the Borlaug Centennial Year.

“Dr. Rajaram worked closely with Dr. Borlaug, succeeding him as head of the wheat breeding program at CIMMYT in Mexico, and then carried forward and expanded upon his work, breaking new ground with his own invaluable achievements. His breakthrough breeding technologies have had a far-reaching and significant impact in providing more food around the globe and alleviating world hunger,” Quinn said. “Dr. Borlaug himself called Dr. Rajaram ‘the greatest present-day wheat scientist in the world’ and ‘a scientist of great vision.’ It is an honor to recognize Dr. Rajaram today for his development of an astounding 480 varieties of wheat, bred to offer higher yields, resistance to the catastrophic rust disease, and that thrive in a wide array of climates.”

Born in a small village in India, Dr. Rajaram worked to be the top in his class as he moved through school, and dedicated his life to making direct improvements for farmers and all people who depend on agriculture. Now a citizen of Mexico, Dr. Rajaram conducted the majority of his research in Mexico at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). His work there led to a prodigious increase in world wheat production – by more than 200 million tons during the 25-year-period known as the “golden years of wheat” – building upon the successes of the Green Revolution.

Born in a small village in India, Dr. Rajaram worked to be the top in his class as he moved through school, and dedicated his life to making direct improvements for farmers and all people who depend on agriculture. Now a citizen of Mexico, Dr. Rajaram conducted the majority of his research in Mexico at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). His work there led to a prodigious increase in world wheat production – by more than 200 million tons during the 25-year-period known as the “golden years of wheat” – building upon the successes of the Green Revolution.

As the World Food Prize celebrates the centennial year of his mentor, Dr. Norman Borlaug, as well as the UN-FAO’s International Year of Family Farming, it is especially fitting that we recognize the impact of Dr. Rajaram’s achievements.

Quinn also noted the importance of carrying forward the great work of leaders such as Dr. Borlaug and Dr. Rajaram as we endeavor to feed our growing population.

“100 years ago when Norm was born, the world population was 1.8 billion; today it is more than 7 billion and by 2050 it’s expected to exceed 9 billion. The greatest challenge in human history is whether we will be able to sustainably feed everyone on our planet. To that end, we will gather some of the greatest minds in science, agriculture and policy in Des Moines October 15-17 at our Borlaug Dialogue symposium to explore that question,” Quinn said. “We are especially honored that His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, will deliver the keynote address at the conference. We invite all those with an interest in food security to join us in the effort to identify critical innovative solutions.”

 



More news from: World Food Prize


Website: http://www.worldfoodprize.org

Published: June 18, 2014

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