Scientist Sanjaya Rajaram wins World Food Prize for developing disease-resistant wheat

Friday, 20 June 2014 00:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Plant scientist Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram has been awarded on the World Food Prize for his groundbreaking research which has led to a dramatic increase in world wheat production. Grown on 58 million hectares worldwide, Rajaram’s high-yielding wheat varieties are relatively disease free and able to adapt to a variety of diverse geographical and climate conditions.

The varieties he developed have led to a 200 million ton increase in wheat production worldwide, which increases the availability of food to millions of people, according to the prize. Secretary of State John Kerry told a gathering at the State Department that Rajaram’s contributions are crucial to feeding the world’s growing population. “When you do the math, our planet needs to support two billion more people in the next three decades, it’s not hard to figure out that this is the time for a second green revolution. That’s why Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram is being honoured now with the World Food Prize. We’re grateful for hundreds of new species of wheat that Dr. Rajaram has developed.” Rajaram, born in India and now a citizen of Mexico, was awarded the prize which was founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman Borlaug – honouring advances in making high quality food crops more accessible around the globe.