Mexico City- A young scientist from India identifies the agent that causes sterility mosaic disease in pigeonpea plants, a source of cheap protein for poor people. A livestock researcher combines knowledge of epidemiology and economics to curb the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle.
These scientists are among the eight extraordinary recipients of the 2004 science awards announced in Mexico City by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a strategic alliance of food and environmental researchers working to improve the productivity and profitability of agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry and foster improved food policies in developing countries. The CGIAR is supported by the United Nations and World Bank.
"Bridging the world of high science and applying it to problems faced by poor farmers is our principal objective," said Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman and World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development. "This year's awards once again demonstrate the power of science in improving the incomes and livelihoods of poor farmers worldwide and protecting our environment."
Science Awards
P. Lava Kumar of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) received the Young Scientist Award for identifying the agent that causes sterility mosaic disease in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), a hardy leguminous plant grown by hundreds of thousands of poor farmers in Asia and Africa. Sterility mosaic disease is a widespread problem that drastically cuts pigeonpea yields, causing more than $300 million in crop losses. The harvested pods are a cheap source of vegetable protein for millions of poor consumers, and the leaves are an important source of fodder for livestock. By planting pigeonpea, farmers are able to improve soil health because the roots trap nitrogen. The award carries a cash prize of US$5,000.
Brian Perry, a veterinary epidemiologist who works at the Nairobi-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) received the Outstanding Scientist Award for innovative work on the dynamics and control of tick-borne diseases of livestock that has led to improved methods of controlling these diseases at both farm and national levels. Livestock are central to the lives and livelihoods of 70 percent of the world's poor people. His research has been instrumental in developing pathways out of poverty for poor farmers who depend on livestock for food, income, and nutrition security in Africa and beyond. The award carries a cash prize of US$5,000.
Outstanding Partnership Award to Community Based Fisheries Management, a partnership coordinated by WorldFish Center in Bangladesh that empowers communities by providing them knowledge so that they can make better-informed decisions on the sustainable use and management of the fisheries. Under the project cooperative relationships coordinated by WorldFish Center have grown to include 11 NGOs and private organizations, and more than 23,000 households living near 113 water bodies in Bangladesh. Anisul Islam of Bangladesh receives a US$10,000 cash prize on behalf of the team.
Outstanding Scientific Support Award to Christine Casal and the team at WorldFish Center who developed FishBase, an internationally recognized premier database and information system on the world's fishes. The team comprises biologists, computer programmers and web developers, and has produced over 50 publications, posters and presentations and delivered capacity-strengthening courses. The award carries a cash prize of $10,000.
Outstanding Scientific Article Award to Marta Vasconcelos (and eight authors) of the Philippine-based International Rice Research Institute for their article "Enhanced iron and zinc accumulation in transgenic rice with the ferritin gene" published in Plant Science. The report shows the potential of using rice to deliver improved nutrition to millions of poor rice consumers. Such research may help address iron deficiency anemia that afflicts billions of people worldwide. The award carries a cash prize of US$10,000.
CGIAR King Baudouin Award to the Rice-Wheat Consortium of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (led by the Mexico-based International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)) for combining their efforts in promoting conservation agriculture benefiting large numbers of farm families in the Indo-Gangetic plains of South Asia. Thanks to the efforts of the consortium and partners, zero tillage is now practiced on over 1.3 million hectares lowering land preparation costs and increasing farmer incomes. In 2003 alone, farmers in India and Pakistan derived $100 million in net estimated benefits. The consortium is helping farmers to plant different crops such as quality protein maize, pigeonpea, mungbean, chickpea, lentil, faba beans, potatoes and vegetables for increasing incomes and household nutrition security. The award carries a cash prize of US$10,000.
Communication Awards
Outstanding Journalism Award to Natasha Loder for her article "The Promise of a Blue Revolution" published in The Economist on August 9, 2003. Her article demonstrated how aquaculture could meet the world's rising demand for fish without ruining the environment, and helped raise global awareness on this critical topic. The award is a travel grant of US $5,000.
Outstanding Communications Award to Smallholder Dairy Project, jointly implemented by International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenyan Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, and Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute for an innovative communication strategy that helped raise awareness among key policymakers about strategic and pro-poor issues in reforming East Africa's dairy sector. Hezekiah Muriuki, Kenyan Department of Agriculture will accept a scroll and $5,000 cash prize on behalf of the partners.
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) supports a network of 15 Future Harvest Centers. In 2003, CGIAR invested $381 million in generating farming solutions geared toward the needs of developing countries. The Government of Mexico is hosting the CGIAR's 2004 Annual General Meeting, October 27-29, 2004.
