WASHINGTON,
June 19, 2013 – Three distinguished scientists — Marc Van Montagu of
Belgium, and Mary-Dell
Chilton and Robert
T. Fraley of the United States — were today named the winners of
the 2013 World Food Prize during a ceremony at the U.S. State Department, where
Secretary of State John Kerry delivered the keynote address.
“Hunger
is a trap that prevents people from realizing their God-given potential,”
Secretary Kerry said. “Food drives life. And the struggle for food is a
struggle for life. This makes hunger an economic issue, a national
security issue – and without a doubt a moral issue. Through innovation, we
can help alleviate hunger and malnutrition today – but more than that, we can
help fulfill our responsibility to tomorrow.”
In
announcing the names of the 2013 Laureates, Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn,
President of the World Food Prize, emphasized the impact and potential of their
work.
“These
three scientists are being recognized for their independent, individual
breakthrough achievements in founding, developing, and applying modern
agricultural biotechnology,” Quinn said. “Their research is making it possible
for farmers to grow crops with improved yields, resistance to insects and disease,
and the ability to tolerate extreme variations in climate.”
Building
upon the scientific discovery of the Double Helix structure of DNA in the
1950s, Van Montagu, Chilton, and Fraley each conducted groundbreaking molecular
research on how a plant bacterium could be adapted as a tool to insert genes
from another organism into plant cells, which could produce new genetic lines
with highly favorable traits.
The
revolutionary biotechnology discoveries of these three individuals - each
working in separate facilities on two continents - unlocked the key to plant
cell transformation using recombinant DNA. Their work led to the development of
a host of genetically enhanced crops, which, by 2012, were grown on more than
170 million hectares around the globe by 17.3 million farmers, over 90 percent
of whom were small resource-poor farmers in developing countries.
From
their work in the laboratory to applying biotechnology innovations in farmers’
fields, the combined achievements of the 2013 World Food Prize Laureates have
contributed significantly to increasing the quantity and availability of food.
Estimates
show the global population growing to 9 billion by 2050. Currently, 870
million, or 1 in 8 people, are hungry. Scientific advancements will play a
critical role as we face the global challenges of the 21st century of producing
more food in a sustainable way, while confronting an increasingly volatile
climate, Quinn said.
Marc
Van Montagu, who is Founder and Chairman of the Institute of Plant
Biotechnology Outreach at Ghent University in Belgium; Mary-Dell Chilton, who
is Founder and Distinguished Fellow of Syngenta Biotechnology; and Robert T.
Fraley, the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Monsanto,
will be formally awarded the World Food Prize at the 27th Annual Laureate Award
Ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol on October 17, in conjunction with the Borlaug Dialogue
international symposium in Des Moines, Iowa, focused this year on “The Next
Borlaug Century: Biotechnology, Sustainability and Climate Volatility.” Also in
October, the World Food Prize Foundation will begin the yearlong Borlaug
Centennial Observance, honoring the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr.
Norman Borlaug, founder of the World Food Prize and known as the “Father of the
Green Revolution.”
Jim
Greenwood, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
applauded the selection of Chilton, Fraley and Montagu, and congratulated the
recipients on this well-deserved honor.
“These
individuals have dedicated their lives to scientific discovery and feeding the
world,” said Greenwood. “Their contributions have helped improve the
lives of farming families around the globe, while increasingly the availability
of safe, healthy and affordable food.”
“Their
achievements are not just scientific, but – more importantly – humanitarian.”
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