Important Facts For Prelims
World Food Prize 2020
- 13 Jun 2020
- 3 min read
Why in News
Indian-American soil scientist - Dr. Rattan Lal - has been declared the winner of the World Food Prize 2020.
- He played a major role in developing and mainstreaming a soil-centric approach to increasing food production that conserves natural resources and mitigates climate change.
- Three separate United Nations Climate Change Conferences have adopted his strategy of restoring soil health as a means to sequestering carbon.
- In 2007, he was among those recognised with a Nobel Peace Prize Certificate for his contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, when the IPCC was named co-recipient of the Nobel Prize.
Key Points
- Objective: The World Food Prize is the foremost international honor recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.
- Field Covered: It is an annual award that recognizes contributions in any field involved in the world food supply including plant, animal and soil science; food science and technology; nutrition, rural development, etc.
- Eligibility: It is open for any individual without regard to race, religion, nationality or political beliefs.
- Cash Prize: In addition to the cash award of $2,50,000, the laureate receives a sculpture designed by the noted artist and designer, Saul Bass.
- Presentation of the Award:
- The Prize is presented each October on or around UN World Food Day (16th October).
- It is presented by the World Food Prize Foundation which has over 80 companies, individuals, etc. as donors.
- The World Food Prize Foundation is located in Des Moines, USA.
- Background:
- Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work in global agriculture, conceived the Prize. He is also known as the Father of the Green Revolution.
- The World Food Prize was created in 1986 with sponsorship by General Foods Corporation.
- It is also known as the "Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture".
- Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, the father of India’s green revolution, was the first recipient of this award in 1987.
