WORLD FOOD PRIZE

WORLD FOOD PRIZE

The World Food Prize was founded in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, The World Food Prize has honored outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions to improving the quality, quantity or availability of food throughout the world. Laureates have been recognized from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and the United States. The prize was endowed by John Ruan Sr. Continuing his legacy, Iowa businessman John Ruan III now serves as chairman of the organization. A Selection Committee of experts from around the world oversees the nomination and selection process, and is chaired by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, who was also the first World Food Prize Laureate.

An Indian aqua-culturist, Mr. Modadugu V. Gupta, research coordinator for the Penang-based World Fish Centre in Malaysia, was named winner of the coveted World Food Prize in 2011, equivalent to the Nobel Prize in Food and Agriculture, for his work in enhancing nutrition for millions of people in South and Southeast Asia, mostly the very poor. He is the sixth Indian to receive this prize. Earlier Indian recipients include Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, Dr. Verghese Kurien, Dr. Gurdev Khush, Mr. B.R. Barwale and Dr. Surinder K. Vasal.

List of Winners:

1987 -   Prof. M. S. Swaminathan (India) He is introducing high-yielding wheat and rice varieties to India starting India's Green Revolution.

1989 -   Dr Verghese Kurien (India) Founder of Operation Flood the largest agricultural development program in the world made the farmer the owner of his cooperative, cutting out middlemen. India emerged as the largest producer of milk in 1998 from milk scarcity when he started.

1996 -   Dr Henry Beachell (United States) and Dr Gurdev Khush (India) Developing "miracle rice" varieties that doubled rice production in Asia since their development.

1998 - Dr B. R. Barwale (India) Founder of independent seed company Mahyco, strengthening seed supply and distribution throughout India.

2000 -   Dr Evangelina Villegas (Mexico) and Dr Surinder K. Vasal (India) Developing high quality protein maize (QPM).

2005 -   Dr Modadugu Vijay Gupta (India) - Development and dissemination of low-cost techniques for freshwater fish farming (using tilapia species) by the rural poor.

2006 -   Edson Lobato (Brazil), His Excellency Alysson Paolinelli (Brazil) and Dr A. Colin McClung (United States)

2007 -   Dr Philip E. Nelson (United States)

2008 -   Bob Dole and George McGovern (both from United States) - Leading and encouraging a global commitment to school feeding, which has enhanced school attendance and nutrition for millions of the world's poorest children, especially young women and girls.

2009 -   Gebisa Ejeta of Ethiopia got the World Food Prize for 2009.

2010 -   David Becamann and Jo Luck (both of USA) got this prize for the year 2010.

2011 -   John Agyekum Kufuor (Ghana) and Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva (Brazil) have been chosen to jointly receive the 2011 World Food Prize for their personal commitment and visionary leadership while serving as the presidents of Ghana and Brazil respectively in creating and implementing government policies to alleviate hunger and poverty in their countries.

2012 -   Daniel Hillel is the winner of 2012 World Food Prize. He is an Israeli scientist-master of drip irrigation system.

2013 -   Dr Mary-Dell Chilton (United States), Dr Robert Fraley (United States) and Dr Marc Van Montagu (Belgium). They were developed science of modern plant biotechnology supporting improved sustainability and global food security.