The Washington Weekly – June 15, 2012

June 15, 2012

The Hunger Project’s Executive VP, John Coonrod, has moved from New York City to Washington, DC to strengthen THP’s seat at the table of international development. Each week, John sends us insight into issues of health, policy, human rights and more by way of the Washington Weekly.

The World Food Prize Edition

“Finally, there seem to be but three Ways for a Nation to acquire Wealth. The first is by War as the Romans did in plundering their conquered Neighbours. This is Robbery. The second by Commerce which is generally Cheating. The third by Agriculture the only honest Way; wherein Man receives a real Increase of the Seed thrown into the Ground, in a kind of continual Miracle wrought by the Hand of God in his favour, as a Reward for his innocent Life, and virtuous Industry.” – Benjamin Franklin, Positions to be Examined, April 4, 1769, quoted by Jonathan Shrier, Acting Special Representative on Food Security at the State Department at the 2012 World Food Prize announcement.

2012 World Food Prize Laureate

Today at the State Department, Hillary Clinton presided over the announcement of the 2012 laureate of the World Food Prize to Daniel Hillel, the American-born, Israeli scientist who created “micro irrigation.” THP directly partnered with Hillel’s group twenty years ago in Senegal when we first introduced drip irrigation into the areas where we work.

THP has always had a strong relationship with the World Food Prize – it was founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner and father of the Green Revolution, Norman Borlaug in 1986, and was first awarded to our then Board Member M. S. Swaminathan. Dr. Borlaug, who passed away in 2009, served as a member of our Africa Prize jury.

Our partnership continues today not only through Hillel’s contributions to our work in Senegal, but also through the leadership of President Chissano who serves on their Council of Advisors and who attended the ceremony along with 2011 World Food Prize laureate former Ghanaian President Kufuor.