We are delighted to inform the ECPGR community that the prestigious World Food Prize has been awarded this year to our colleagues and friends, Geoff Hawtin and Cary Fowler.

They have been recognized “for their extraordinary leadership in preserving and protecting the world’s heritage of crop biodiversity and mobilizing this critical resource to defend against threats to global food security. Over the last 50 years, their combined efforts as researchers, policy advisors, thought leaders and advocates have succeeded in engaging governments, scientists, farmers and civil society towards the conservation of over 6,000 species of crops and culturally important plants.”

As Director General of IBPGR/IPGRI from 1991 to 2003, Geoff has consistently championed plant genetic resources networks, and ECPGR in particular.

Cary has been a most welcome guest and invaluable resource at memorable ECPGR Steering Committee meetings in Braunschweig (1998) and St. Petersburg (2001).

Congratulations, Geoff and Cary, and thanks for your invaluable work in safeguarding plant genetic resources!