Yuan Longping, the "father of hybrid rice," was named a winner
of the annual US$250,000 World Food Prize on Monday for his work in
producing high-yield rice.
Another scientist from Sierra Leone was named co-winner of the
prize.
Professor Yuan Longping, director general of the China National
Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center in central China's Hunan
Province, is also an academician of the Chinese Academy of
Sciences.
Dr. Monty Jones is the executive secretary of the Forum for
Agricultural Research in Africa in Accra, Ghana.
World Food Prize President Kenneth Quinn praised both men for
their "breakthrough scientific achievements, which have
significantly increased food security for millions of people from
Asia to Africa."
Yuan and Jones were being honored at a US State Department
ceremony hosted by Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Yuan is credited with developing the world's first successful
and widely grown hybrid rice varieties, revolutionizing rice
cultivation in China and tripling production over a generation.
Jones' work recaptured the genetic potential of ancient African
rices by combining African and Asian varieties, "dramatically
increasing yields and offering great hope to millions of poor
farmers," according to the award citation.
UN Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Jacques
Diouf said it was fitting that rice experts are being awarded the
food prize in 2004, the same year dedicated by the United Nations
as the International Year of Rice.
"Rice is life," Diouf said, noting that the staple provides 20
percent of the world’s dietary energy supply.
The prize was created in 1986 by Dr. Norman Borlaug, who won the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work in developing new
technologies for feeding the hungry. The award recognizes people
who help improve the quality or availability of food throughout the
world.
(China Daily March 30, 2004)
