IITA Bulletin - October 2013 (Special Issue) - World Food Prize

7/27/2019 IITA Bulletin - October 2013 (Special Issue) - World Food Prize

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THE

Special Issue No. 2196 October 2013

www.iita.org

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Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Applicationpresented to Charity Mutegi

The World Food Prize Norman BorlaugAward for Field Research andApplication was presented to CharityMutegi, Kenya Country Coordinator for theIITA Aatoxin Biocontrol Project, in DesMoines, Iowa, on UN World Food Day last16 October. The award presentation wasattended by several hundreds of peers anda very encouraging audience of scientists,

policymakers, and partners attending the2013 Borlaug Dialogue, an internationalsymposium on global food security issuesheld 15-18 October.

The World Food Prize is the foremostinternational award recognizing theaccomplishments of individuals whohave inuenced human development

by improving the quality, quantity, oravailability of food in the world. Charitywas recognized for her work in variousfacets of aatoxin management in Kenya,which included awareness raising, capacity

building, establishing risk assessment data,and extending and potential deployment ofa biological control product called aasafe,

for managing aatoxin. The biocontrol

technology was initially developed by

Dr Peter Cotty of USDA-ARS and has

been adapted for use in Africa by IITA

and partners.Aatoxin is a natural toxin produced by

a mold that causes death and disease inconsumers and massive economic damageto farmers, especially in developing

countries.Charity previously worked with the

Food and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations and the Kenya Ministry

of Agriculture to train more than 40,000farmers, extension agents, and policy

personnel on aatoxin control measures,and continued to generate data on aatoxin

Charity Mutegi (center) with Gary H. Toenniessen, Managing Director of the Rockefeller Foundation

(left) and Amb. Kenneth Quinn, President of the World Food Prize (right). Behind is a life-size

portrait of Dr Norman Borlaug, 1970 Nobel Peace Prize recipient and the Father of the Green

Revolution.

Left to right: Charity during the press conference; with 1995 World Food Prize laureate and

former IITA scientist, Dr Hans Herren; with her mentor Dr Ranajit Bandyopadhyay and the poster

announcement on her award presentation.

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The magnicent state capitol in Des Moines was the site of the awarding of the World Food

Prize.

prevalence to ne-tune national effortsto manage the problem. Her aatoxinmanagement efforts in Kenya have spannedover a decade.

While in Des Moines, Charity visitedthe Des Moines Area Community College(DMACC) and met with faculty andschool administrators to discuss some ofthe challenges and opportunities that heraward brings. After the meeting, she gave

an inspirational talk to an auditorium-fullof youths about her journey as a womanscientist and her aspirations and dreams fora food-secure world. She ended her talk byencouraging the youths to work hard and

pursue their dreams.Prior to the presentation of the award,

which was held at the imposing World FoodPrize Hall of Laureates, an old building thatused to be the public library, Charity wasgiven an enthusiastic and warm welcome

by the African community of Iowa,organized with the World Food Prize andthe local residents on the Riverwalk. The

well-wishers, from 16 African countries,endured the chilly winds of autumn, whilethey sang and danced to traditional Africanmusic and gave testimonials to an inspiringdaughter of Africa.

You make Africa proud; you make allof us proud, said Mpule Kwelagobe,Founder and CEO of the Mpule Instituteof Endogenous Development, one of thespeakers in the Borlaug Dialogue, whoadded that the sooner we have our own(African) academics and researchersleading the ght against hunger in Africa,the better we can address the critical issue

of food security.After the colorful and enthusiasticwelcome led by Amb. Kenneth Quinn,President of the World Food Prize, Charityresponded to the crowd, saying that it was agreat honor to have this reception.

There is a lot that Africans can share tothe world. My award is not just a personalachievement, but it is an achievement forus as Africans; it also shows that scientistshave something major to contributetowards global food security. We are asimportant as any other person in any other

part of the globe. Never forget that. Also

remember, for you here in the US, we alsolook up to you to come back home or dosomething that can bring positive changesto our continent. Always remember that.To the students, remember that there isno substitute for hard work. You havethe opportunity to use the best resources,something that some of our colleagues inAfrica cannot do. So, make the best useof it.

In thanking the African community,Charity said, Never forget your people

back home. It is we who will make adifference. Please shine the African ag

brighter. I am proud to be African.During the awarding program at the Hallof Laureates, Charity wowed the audiencewith her short talk on what inspired her towork in the area of food safety, describingthe science behind IITAs aatoxin

The World Food Prize

The World Food Prize was foundedin 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug,who won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for

his work in developing high-yielding,

disease-resistant wheat in Mexico and

in introducing adaptable wheat varieties

into India and Pakistan during the 1950s

and 1960s. Since then, the World FoodPrize has honored outstanding individuals

who have made vital contributions

to improving the quality, quantity or

availability of food.

The Norman Borlaug Award for Field

Research and Application endowed by

the Rockefeller Foundation recognizes

an individual under the age of 40 who

emulates the scientic innovation and

dedication to food security demonstrated

by Dr Borlaug. Since the launch of the

award in 2012, both winners have been

women from developing and both have

been from the CGIAR Consortium. The

rst recipient was Dr Aditi Mukherji,

who was working as a senior researcher

for the International Water Management

Institute (IWMI) in India, and now with

the International Centre for Integrated

Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

Charity was unanimously selected over

more than 40 other contenders to win

the award launched in Norman Borlaugs

memory.

management work. She said that shecannot just stand by and do nothing aboutthe problem of aatoxin contaminationwhen she can see people in her country

dying from eating maize contaminatedwith aatoxins. A devastating outbreakof aatoxicosis in 2004-05 caused thedeath of more than 125 people who had


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Above: Charity being welcomed by the African community of Iowa. Above left: Amb. Quinn dances with Charity, while Mpule Kwelagobe, Founder

and CEO, Mpule Institute for Endogenous Development (center), and 2009 World Food Prize laureate Gebisa Ejeta (right) and Z. Bomba, CEO,

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency from Ethiopia (right) congratulate a sister African.

Below (left): Charity during the panel discussion titled Behind the big idea, on 17 October; and with the Borlaugs, Jeannie (Borlaugs daughter, left)

and Julie (granddaughter, second from right), and Katherine Lopez of IITAs Communication Ofce.

Snapshots of the World Food Prize celebration


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Above: Meeting with DMACC administrators

and ofcials. Right: DMACC President Rob

Denson introduces Charity during the seminar

presentation.

consumed contaminated grain in easternKenya. This prompted her to go into thisarea of research and investigate solutions tohelp avert future outbreaks and safeguardthe regions staple crop of maize.

Upon receiving the award at the Hall ofLaureates, Charity thanked the variousindividuals and institutions that havehelped and supported her and her work,including Dr Ranajit Bandyopadhyay,

principal scientist and lead of the IITAaatoxin management project, her mentor,who also attended the award ceremony atDes Moines.

Charity also served as a panel member inone of the sessions titled Beyond the bigidea, where along with two other panelmembers, she talked about the intersectionof science, enterprise and technology increating a more effective and innovativeagricultural sector, and the role of younginnovators in shaping the future landscapeof food security and internationaldevelopment.

Charity also helped pack meals withstudents attending the Global YouthInstitute during the meal packagingevent sponsored by Outreach, a nonprotorganization that helps feed children inTanzania. The meals will be shipped toTanzania as part of development programsfor local communities. Outreach focuseson developing services in the area of water,food, medicine, and education.

Charity also interacted with studentsand fellow laureates on the last day of theDialogue. Every year, as part of the BorlaugDialogue, more than 150 exceptional high

schools students and their teachers fromthe USA and other countries are selectedto participate in the three-day Global YouthInstitute hosted by the World Food PrizeFoundation. The students are given theopportunity to interact with Nobel andWorld Food Prize Laureates and discuss

pressing food security and agriculturalissues with international experts.

When asked about her experiences at theWorld Food Prize celebration, she said,It was very fullling, and worth everymoment in spite of the rigorous schedule. Itwas a great honor to see the world recognize

my efforts towards achieving food securitythrough safe food.

Highlights of 2013 Borlaug Dialogue

The 2013 Borlaug Dialogue, organizedby the World Food Prize, had the themeThe Next Borlaug Century: Biotechnology,Sustainability and Climate Volatility.Activities for this years celebrationincluded the centennial observance of thebirth of 1970 Nobel Peace Prize recipientand Father of the Green Revolution Dr

Norman Borlaug, and the 60th anniversaryof Watson and Cricks discovery of thedouble helix makeup of DNA; and therecognition of 2013 winners of Dr BorlaugsWorld Food Prizeall pioneers of modernagricultural biotechnology.

World Food Prize laureates for 2013include Marc Van Montagu of Belgium, aformer member of IITAs Board of Trustees;and Mary-Dell Chilton and Robert T. Fraleyfrom the United States.

An excerpt from the Word Food Prizebrieng kit says that this years laureateswere recognized for their independent,

individual breakthrough achievements infounding, developing, and applying modernagricultural biotechnology. Their researchhelped us to discover and understand howplants work, and how it is possible to adddesired traits or characteristics in a moreexact, specic, and faster way than throughtraditional plant breeding. Their research ismaking it possible for farmers to grow cropswith improved yields, resistance to insectsand diseases; and the ability to tolerateextreme variations in climate. The workof these three distinguished scientists hadbeen critical in bringing new technologies

to our food system.Other highlights of the celebration include:

Iowa Hunger Summit that brought togethermore than 600 Iowans and visitors workingon feeding hungry people, both in the USand abroad. Featured speakers and guestsincluded Magnus McFarlane Barrow fromScotland, who founded Marys Meals, anorganization that provides meals for morethan 700,000 school children each dayaround the world; and Lucille Wilson,the rst Robert D. Ray Iowa SHARESHumanitarian awardee.

Presentation of Norman Borlaug Award

for Field Research and Application tohonor Charity Mutegi for her effortsworking with a team in combating thedeadly aatoxin mold that contaminatesstored grains. According to the WorldFood Prize, her diligent research led toinnovative solutions to avert outbreaksand safeguard the regions staple crop ofmaize. Dr Mutegi is leading efforts forthe development of a natural, biocontrolproduct in Kenya that can be used tosignicantly reduce aatoxin levels onmaize.

Global Youth Institute, which providedyouths from the US and other countriesthe opportunity to come together andlearn about global challenges and presenttheir own original research and solutions.They also interacted with the laureatesand other scientists in examining complexhunger issues.

Interfaith Service to End World Hunger,led by Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson,President of the Pontical Council forJustice and Peace, Holy See, the Vatican,and leaders of a broad representation offaith communities.

Iowa Hunger Fight, where participantspackaged meals for feeding hungrylocal communities and also identiedcommunities in Africa. The mealpackaging event was presented byDuPont Pioneer in conjunction withMeals from the Heartland.

Special Film Screening: A Place at theTable, a lm that examines hunger inAmerica. It tells the story of Americanswho suffer from food insecurity andexplores the implications of hunger. Itwas followed by a special discussionpanel.


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What they say about herIITA Director General Dr Nteranya

Sanginga: She is a great role model for

all young African scientists and we are

proud to have her on our team.

Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn, President of

the World Food Prize: Dr Mutegi is an

inspiration to other young scientists aroundthe world. She tackled a critical problem,

and has effectively transferred her own

scientic knowledge to farmers and

policymakers to help improve food safety

for the entire region. Like Dr. Borlaug, she

has put the needs of people rst, and has

shown persistence, innovation, effective

communication, contribution to science,

and application of that science to improve

lives and livelihoods.

The news agency Agwired in their article

on World Food Prize: Brilliant, well-

spoken, and pretty as a doll, Dr CharityKawira Mutegi was everyones darling

at the World Food Prize symposium last

week.

Above: Charity with 2013 World Food Prize laureate Marc Van Montagu (left) and Nigerian

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Akin Adesina (center); Charity and Ranajit with

IITA partners and friends: Jacob Mignouna (middle) and Vasey Mwaja (extreme right), Bill &

Melinda Gates Foundation, and Dennis Kyetere, African Agricultural Technology Foundation.

Below: IITA booth during the World Food Prize celebration held in Marriott Hotel, Des Moines.

Above left: Charity talks to the youth

participants of the Global Youth Institute.

Above right: Charity with organizers and

youth participants in the meal packaging

event sponsored by Outreach.

Charity with her plaque from the World

Food Prize (right) and with Dr M.S.

Swaminathan, the rst World Food Prizelaureate from India (right).


Documents

IITA Bulletin - October 2013 (Special Issue) - World Food Prize