Announcement of the 2004 Winners of the World Food Prize

Established in 1986, the purpose of the World Food Prize is to inspire and recognize truly exceptional, individual, breakthrough, achievements in increasing the quality, quantity and availability of food in a world still beset with hunger, malnutrition and famine.

On behalf of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, whose vision led to the creation of the World Food Prize, and John and Janis Ruan, whose family endows The Prize, I wish to thank Secretary Powell and Under Secretary Larson for welcoming us to the State Department, and Secretary Veneman and Executive Director Diouf for their presence here today.

It is most fitting that in this, the United Nations International Year of Rice, I am able to announce that the $250,000 World Food Prize will be shared by two pioneering rice breeders who, working separately, have made exceptional accomplishments in increasing food security for millions of people from Asia to Africa.

Dr. Yuan Longping of China, and Dr. Monty Jones of Sierra Leone

Professor Yuan Longping
Professor Yuan's breakthrough scientific achievement led to the world's first successful and widely grown hybrid rice varieties, revolutionizing rice cultivation in China and tripling production over a generation. His approach to rice breeding then spread internationally throughout Asia and to Africa and the Americas, providing food for tens of millions and leading to his becoming known as the "Father of Hybrid Rice."

Dr. Monty Jones
Working in the most difficult environments, Dr. Jones led a pioneering effort at WARDA to develop New Rice for Africa (NERICA). In an unprecedented achievement, he recaptured the genetic potential of ancient African rices by combining African and Asian rice species, dramatically increasing yields, and offering great hope to millions of poor farmers as a catalyst for agricultural transformation in West Africa.

The World Food Prize will be formally presented to Professor Yuan and Dr. Jones at a ceremony on October 14, 2004 in the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines. The ceremony will be held as part of The World Food Prize International Symposium, "From Asia to Africa: Rice, Biofortification and Enhanced Nutrition."