Market News & Headlines >> Wheat Breeder Awarded Food Prize

The World Food Prize for 2014 was awarded to Sanjaya Rajaram, a prominent wheat scientist from India who resides in Mexico, for his work in developing disease-resistant varieties adaptable to many climates and difficult growing conditions such as mountainous areas of Pakistan and acidic areas of Brazil. 

The prize, founded in 1986 by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman Borlaug, is widely viewed as the Nobel Prize for agriculture. Borlaug was, in fact, a close mentor of Rajaram, who went on to develop 480 wheat varieties that have been used in 51 countries on 6 continents.

“It’s a great honor,” Rajaram said, “I’m a very humble person but very honored the World Food Prize committee has recognized me for the work I have done.”