June 27, 2017: The 2017 World Food Prize has been awarded to Dr Akinyumi A Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group. Dr. Adesina will receive the $250,000 prize for his work in African agriculture and towards improving food security for millions in the continent. The announcement was made onMonday at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Prof M S Swaminathan, Founder MSSRF is also the Chair of the World Food Prize Selection Committee. In a letter to Dr Adesina on this formal announcement, Prof Swaminathan said “No better choice could have been made for this award, which is now regarded as the Nobel Prize in Food and Agriculture. Your contributions both to Nigeria and to all other countries in Africa in the area of agricultural advancement and sustainable food and livelihood security are truly monumental.”

The World Food Prize, instituted by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr Norman Borlaug, is the foremost award that aims to recognize monumental contribution towards the food security of the world. Instituted in the year 1986, Prof Swaminathan was the first World Food Prize Awardee in 1987.

( Pic courtesy of the World Food Prize media kit)