World Food Prize Laureates from Purdue University
Akinwumi Ayoejui Adesina, 2017
Purdue University alumnus Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, president of the African Development Bank Group, has been named the 2017 World Food Prize Laureate for his work as a reformer and leader of the agricultural sector in Africa. In his career, he has created innovative financial instruments and policy changes that have transformed African agriculture.
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Gebisa Ejeta, 2009
Dr. Gebisa Ejeta Ejeta, a Distinguished Professor of Agronomy, was selected as a World Food Prize laureate in 2009 for his research leading to improved sorghum varieties in his native Ethiopia and other African nations. Sorghum is a major food crop for more than 500 million people on the African continent.
Video about Dr. Ejeta
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Phil Nelson, 2007
Dr. Philip E. Nelson, Professor Emeritus at Purdue University, was awarded the 2007 World Food Prize for his innovative breakthrough technologies which have revolutionized the food industry, particularly in the area of large-scale storage and transportation of fresh fruit and vegetables using bulk aseptic food processing.
An icon of the food world, Dr. Nelson’s discoveries have made major contributions to the availability of nutritious foods worldwide. Commonly credited for recognizing the untapped potential of aseptic technologies for much larger scale applications, the aseptic bulk processing and packaging technology pioneered by Nelson can be found in almost every country in the world.
Video about Dr. Nelson
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