Scientist wins prize for new African rice

Dr. Monty Jones, a plant scientist from Sierra Leone, became the first African ever to win the prestigious World Food Prize at a ceremony in the US farming state of Iowa on 14 October. He was honoured for his breakthrough work in developing the New Rice for Africa (Nerica), a drought-resistant, high-yielding, protein-rich type of rice. Nerica has been embraced by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as an example of the kind of innovative efforts that can help spur Africa’s agricultural development and reduce hunger (see Africa Recovery, January 2004).