The World Food Prize is awarded for a specific, exceptionally significant, individual achievement that advances human development with a demonstrable increase in the quantity, quality, availability of, or access to food through creative interventions at any point within the full scope of the food system.
Fields of achievement include, but are not limited to: soil and land; plant and animal science; food science and technology; nutrition; rural development; marketing; food processing, packaging and storage; water and the environment; natural resource conservation; physical infrastructure; transportation and distribution; special or extraordinary feeding programs; social organization and poverty elimination; economics and finance; policy analysis and implementation; and public advocacy.
About World Food Prize Foundation
The World Food Prize Foundation was initially sponsored and formed by businessman and philanthropist John Ruan, Sr. with support from the Governor and State Legislature of Iowa. Mr. Ruan endowed The Prize and relocated it to Des Moines in 1990 when its first sponsor withdrew. Without Mr. Ruan's generosity, the Prize and Dr. Borlaug's vision could not have continued. Today, over 80 companies, foundations and individuals support the Foundation. In 2001 John Ruan's son, John Ruan III, succeeded his father as chairman of the Board of the Foundation. Barbara Stinson ... continue reading
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World Food Prize Foundation Award
Aim and Benefits of World Food Prize Foundation Award
Award value not specified.
World Food Prize Foundation Award Courses
Requirements for World Food Prize Foundation Award Qualification
- To be considered, nominations and all seconding and supporting documents must be submitted by May 1 of the year for which they are to be considered. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.
- The World Food Prize Secretariat assists the Selection Committee by reviewing all nominations for appropriateness and completeness and then forwarding them to the Selection Committee.
- The Selection Committee then reviews the nominations and recommends the recipient and first alternate it deems most worthy for the award based on the Prize criteria. Recommendations are forwarded through the President of the Foundation to the Foundation’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and Council of Advisors for final approval.
- The Selection Committee is composed of a panel of distinguished individuals who are knowledgeable about various aspects of plant science, agricultural production, agricultural policy, nutrition, food processing, food distribution, water and the environment.
- Members of the Selection Committee remain anonymous except for the Chairman, Dr. Gebisa Ejeta. The minutes of the Committee's meeting and the views expressed by its members are not made public.
- The President of the Foundation serves as an ex-officio, non-voting advisor to the Selection Committee, but does not participate in nor influence the deliberations regarding the selection of the Laureate.
Interview date, Process and Venue for World Food Prize Foundation Award
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This exceptionally significant achievement must be shown to have resulted in a demonstrable increase in the quantity, quality, availability of, or access to food for a large number of people.
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The impact of this achievement must be measurable, quantifiable, or otherwise demonstrated either in terms of reduced poverty, hunger, or suffering; or enhanced health, nutrition, quality of life and well-being.
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It must be clearly shown that this increase in food security was the direct result of the specific actions and activities of the nominee; i.e., without his or her specific accomplishment, no change would have occurred.
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A nominee must be living and in sufficiently good health to attend the World Food Prize Award Ceremony. The nominee must be able to give an acceptance speech and agree to participate in selected media events and the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute at the time of the Award Ceremony.
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The Prize is intended to be awarded to one person. In exceptional circumstances where an additional person (or persons) has collaborated in an indispensable way, more than one person may be included in the nomination. However, it must be demonstrated conclusively that each person contributed in an essential way, and that without each individual’s contribution, no achievement would have been possible. The World Food Prize Selection Committee will determine whether a joint nomination meets these criteria, and in cases where it judges this standard has not been met, to limit the number of persons being considered.
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Factors Considered by the Selection Committee in Choosing a Laureate
- The Selection Committee will consider the number of people affected by the nominee's achievement as well as the extent of the change they experienced as substantial factors in evaluating the relative significance of the various individual achievements being considered.
- Substantial weight will also be given to the complexity of the problem and the degree of difficulty involved in achieving success. Similarly, consideration will be given to the degree of ingenuity and determination of the nominee in attaining this change or advancement.
- If the Selection Committee judges that the accomplishment was simultaneously attained by two or more individuals working separately, the Selection Committee may recommend that the Prize be shared.
- In exceptional circumstances, the Selection Committee may also decide to recognize two or more individuals in the same year for: their separate, independent accomplishments in a common area of specialization; or their work in different areas of expertise, which contributed to a significant positive impact in a common country or geographic area, or in a common cause.
- It is intended that all elements of the food system be recognized at some point in the awarding of the Prize. In weighing the merits of nominations, consideration may be given to attaining a balance among all segments of the food system in the selection of the Laureate.
- The Prize recognizes achievements made by individuals working in every part of the world, representing the diversity of the global food and nutrition security community. The Prize aims to give due recognition to individuals of diverse geographic areas, as well as gender, age, race and ethnicity.
- The Selection Committee especially welcomes the nominations of individuals who have worked across political boundaries to feed hungry people in a way that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict, which would emulate Dr. Borlaug’s accomplishments in spreading the Green Revolution for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Documents Required for Application
Any academic institution, private or public organization, or governmental unit may submit a nomination for the World Food Prize. Any such entity may submit as many nominations as it sees fit. All nominations are confidential, and the identities of the nominators and the nominating organization are kept in strict confidence. Individuals may generate nominations, but the nomination must be endorsed by, and submitted through, an academic institution, private or public organization, or governmental unit. Self-nominations will not be considered.
To submit a nomination, please visit this online form. The following list details the information that will be required.
- Nominator Information: Name(s) of the person(s) submitting the nomination, the name of the nominating organization, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number. The nomination must be endorsed by a senior official of
the nominating organization, certifying the accuracy of the information.
- Nominee Information: Nominee’s name, current position, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number, date and country of birth, and citizenship.
- Biographical Information: A resume or CV detailing the nominee's positions held, education, professional affiliations, honors and awards.
- Photograph: Photo of the nominee.
- Synopsis: In 150 words or less, why the nominee should be awarded the World Food Prize.
- Statement of Achievement: In no more than two pages, describe the nominee’s specific achievement. The nominee should be nominated for one specific, measurable and sustainable achievement which has significantly increased the quality, quantity, availability of, or access to food.
- Statement of Impact: In no more than two pages, describe the impact of the nominee's achievement in terms of enhanced health, nutrition and quality of life, or reduced levels of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. The Statement should clearly summarize:
- the number of people affected;
- the geographical boundaries of the impact; and
- the effect over time on the well-being of the people affected.
The most compelling nominations will demonstrate quantitatively the change or changes that occurred as a direct result of the nominee's achievement.
- Seconding Nominations: A signed and dated letter seconding the nomination must be provided from at least two individuals who are familiar with the nominee’s work, but who are not directly associated with the nominating organization. Letters seconding the nomination should ideally provide additional information regarding the nominee’s achievement as well as its impact on the people affected.
- Supporting Documents: Documents should be provided that support the nomination. These may include: news or journal articles describing the nominee’s achievements and the impact of his or her work; and publications by or about the nominee that directly relate to the achievement. Please send only digital copies of each document.
If a nominee becomes the World Food Prize Laureate, the information contained in the nomination and the supporting documents may be used to prepare press materials about the winner.
Please note that all text documents must be submitted in Microsoft Word or PDF format (.doc, .docx, or .pdf).
Eligibility Period:
Nominees remain eligible for consideration for a three-year period, starting with the year of submission. Nominators are encouraged to provide updated information during this period. After this three-year time frame, a completely new nomination must be submitted in order for the nominee to continue to be considered. The Selection Committee may decide to extend the eligibility period for nominations deemed worthy of further consideration.
Application Deadline
May 1, 2024
How to Apply
Interested and qualified? Go to
World Food Prize Foundation on www.worldfoodprize.org to apply
To submit a nomination, please visit this form. The deadline for submitting a nomination is May 1.
Submit a Nomination
For more details visit: WFPF website.
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