World Food Prize Winners Announced

With Monsanto, a sustainable agriculture company, currently hitting the headlines and igniting debates, petitions, and more quizzical stares at ingredient labels, the future of food production has been a topic of scrutiny and analysis. But with the attention, this national controversy has had the opportunity to shine a light on the impending food epidemic. Food organizations and governments have been concentrating their efforts to fight global hunger, and with good reason. But the powers that be took a break this Wednesday to announce this year’s World Food Prize winners. [caption id="attachment_8045" align="alignleft" width="98" caption="Norman E. Borlaug"][/caption] The World Food Prize, created by Iowa native and Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman E. Borlaug in 1986, spotlights the persistent work of individuals who have improved the quality and availability of food throughout the world. On June 19 at the State Department in Washington, the World Food Prize announced Marc Van Montagu of Belgium and Mary-Dell Chilton and Robert Fraley of the United States, as winners of the 2013 awards for their extensive research on plant biotechnology. The process for which they were nominated included placing foreign genes into plant DNA to produce favorable results and improved crop yields. These plants are more resistant to insects and diseases, allowing for better and more abundant harvests to accommodate the steady increase in necessary food supply. "Their work led to the development of a host of biologically and genetically enhanced crops grown by farmers around the word,” Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, President of the World Food Prize, said after announcing the winners as quoted in USA Today. "Our laureates have truly used science to multiply the harvest." The growing global population is expected to reach nine billion by 2050, and the natural environment cannot support this aggressive expansion rate. Biotechnology has been a critical factor in planning for future global stability and in boosting food security for today’s alarming hunger situation. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, an estimated 7 billion people do not get enough food each day. When food and the solidity of feeding our families in the future is at stake, farmers, politicians, lawmakers, scientists and moms at the grocery store are now all wondering what’s next. Now that’s some food for international thought.