Finalists announced for Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security
We are delighted to be able to announce the finalists for the inaugural Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security. The award, in partnership with Agropolis Fondation, is one of four initiatives launched to mark Olam’s 25th anniversary. The two finalists have been recognised for their innovation which carries a significant impact on the availability, affordability and accessibility or adequacy of food.
The candidates have been judged by an international jury in conjunction with the Louis Malassis International Scientific prizes. The winner will receive a total prize of US$50,000, comprising US$15,000 as a personal award and US$35,000 as a grant for further research, which will be awarded at the Global Science Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture on 16th March 2015, a prestigious event convening leading agricultural scientists from around the world.
Shortlist
The System of Rice Intensification (SRI)/System of Crop Intensification (SCI), pioneered by the SRI International Network and Research Center, Cornell University
SRI and its derived SCI are management methodologies which increase the productivity of seeds, water, land, labour and capital when growing irrigated and upland rice by changing the management of plants, soil, water and nutrients. These agroecologically-based methods enhance crops’ resilience to the adverse effects of climate change: drought, water stress, flooding, storm winds, pests and diseases. Please see here for more information on SRI.
Plantwise Food Security Programme, pioneered by the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI)
Plantwise is a global programme to increase food security and improve rural livelihoods by reducing crop losses. This is achieved by establishing networks of local plant clinics, run by trained plant doctors, where farmers can find practical plant health advice. Plantwise strengthens national plant health systems from within, enabling countries to provide farmers with the knowledge they need to lose less to pests and grow and feed more. Please see here for more information on Plantwise.
We wish both of our finalists the best of luck.
Agropolis Fondation will shortly announce finalists of the 3rd edition of the Louis Malassis International Scientific Prize for Agriculture and Food, and the finalists of both Prizes will have their work highlighted in a series of blogs on Farming First over the coming weeks. The first blog from Olam Prize finalist Plantwise is online here.
