ibironkeeniola 
Simon N. Groot has officially been awarded as the 2019 World Food Prize Laureate at the ongoing World Food Prize Borlaug Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa USA.
The award which was presented by the Iowa State Governor, Kim Reynolds was in recognition of Groot’s empowerment of millions of smallholder farmers in more than 60 countries through enhanced vegetable production that benefited hundreds of millions of consumers with access to nutritious vegetables for healthy diets.
Groot while receiving the award said; “I am very grateful to receive this award. My own philosophy from 40 years ago was to deliver quality seeds to farmers and to become their friend. Finally, in this huge world of global agriculture, you have recognized the small guys – the vegetable farmers of Africa, Asia and Latin America”.
He started East-West Seed in the Philippines in 1982 in partnership with the Royal Tropical Institute of Amsterdam and Filipino seed trader, Benito Domingo. A team of young breeders from Wageningen University (WUR) and the University of Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB) then began to develop hybrid vegetable varieties.
He also introduced Jade Star; the first locally developed commercial bitter gourd in tropical Asia in 1986. Tomato and eggplant varieties followed, as well as pumpkin, brassicas and leafy vegetables like kangkong.
In 1994, Groot became one of the founding fathers of the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA), and in 2003 of a consortium of vegetable breeders to support AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center – with funds and expertise.
He was also honoured with a lifetime membership of APSA in 2014 and in 2015, he was awarded the Mansholt Business Award for Sustainable Entrepreneurship at Wageningen University.
The World Food Prize is the foremost international award for recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA