In news– Cynthia Rosenzweig, a senior research scientist and head of the Climate Impacts Group at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, received the 2022 World Food Prize.
Key updates-
- Rosenzweig was selected for the award for her research to understand the relationship between climate and food systems and forecast how both will change in the future.
- Her modelling work has provided a foundation for decision-makers around the world to create strategies to mitigate climate change and adapt our food systems to a changing planet, which has helped communities worldwide address the consequences of Earth’s changing climate.
- She used data from NASA satellites and models to study agricultural regions around the world and how they are changing.
- She is also a co-founder of the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP), an international project using climate science, crop modeling and economic modeling to understand crop yield and food security in a changing climate.
- In 2021 Shakuntala H. Thilsted had received it for her achievements in pioneering fish-based nutrition-sensitive approaches to food systems.
About the World Food Prize-
- It is an international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity, or availability of food in the world.
- Conceived by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman Borlaug and established in 1986 through the support of General Foods, the prize is envisioned and promoted as the Nobel or the highest honours in the field of food and agriculture.
- It is now administered by the World Food Prize Foundation with support from numerous sponsors.
- The World Food Prize Foundation was initially sponsored and formed by businessman and philanthropist John Ruan, Sr. with support from the Governor and State Legislature of Iowa.
- Since 1987, the prize has been awarded annually to recognize contributions in any field involved in the world food supply, such as animal science, aquaculture, soil science, water conservation, nutrition, health, plant science, seed science, plant pathology, crop protection, food technology, food safety, policy, research, infrastructure, emergency relief, and poverty alleviation and hunger.
- Laureates are honoured and officially awarded their prize in Des Moines, Iowa(a Midwestern U.S. state), in an award ceremony held at Iowa State Capitol.
- Laureates are presented with a diploma, a commemorative sculpture designed by Saul Bass and a monetary award of $ 250,000.
- India’s M.S swaminathan was the first person to receive this award for leadership and science in introducing high-yielding wheat and rice varieties in the 1960s.
