World Food Prize

The World Food Prize (World Food Prize ) is an international award for individuals who have rendered special services to improve the quantity, quality or availability of food.

The award was created in 1986 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug Ernest and financed by businessman and philanthropist John Ruan since 1990. The price takes into account contributions in all fields that serve the world's food: food science, agricultural science and agricultural technology, production, marketing, food science, economics, poverty alleviation, policy initiatives and social sciences. In addition to the recognition of personal achievements, Borlaug saw the price as a means to establish role models who would inspire others.

The official award ceremony will take in Des Moines, Iowa in the meeting room of the Iowa State Capitol. At the same time, the World Food Prize International Symposium is organized every year to address a topic concerning world hunger and world food security.

Criticism

Criticism comes from NGOs and from winners and winners of the Alternative Nobel Prize, who criticize the untransparent interests behind this price. Thus, the price of dubious corporations like Monsanto will support that make through patenting of seeds and toxic sprays particularly small farmers dependent and expose them to major health hazards.

So sentenced after the announcement of the winners in June 2013, international experts as 81 winners of the Right Livelihood Award ( " Alternative Nobel Prize " ) and members of the World Future Council ( WFC ), the award of the World Food Prize to executives of Monsanto and were shocked and indignant at the ceremony to scientists and executives of companies that manufacture and sell GM seeds. The criticism is in this case specifically against Robert Fraley, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Monsanto.

Award winners

The winners will be honored annually in October. The winners will receive $ 250,000. The publication of the award winners will be late spring / early summer before the solemn recognition in October.