YUAN LONGPING

YUAN LONGPING

Subject : Important Personalities

Context : Yuan Longping, a Chinese agricultural scientist whose breakthroughs in hybrid rice brought food security to China and transformed agriculture worldwide, died aged 91.

Concept :

• Yuan is celebrated in China as the “father of hybrid rice” for his contributions to agriculture.
• In 1970s, he developed “the first hybrid rice combination called Nan-you No. 2 which, due to heterosis — a phenomenon in which the progeny of two distinctly different parents grow faster, yield more, and resist stress better than either parent.
• Farmers around the world have benefitted from his techniques as hybrid rice spread throughout Asia, Africa and the Americas.
• In 2004, he was honoured with the World Food Prize “for his breakthrough achievement in developing the genetic materials and technologies essential for breeding high-yielding hybrid rice varieties”.
• The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation honoured him with a prize in 2001.

World Food Prize

• 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.
• 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.
• It is open for any individual without regard to race, religion, nationality or political beliefs.
• 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.