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PIO wheat scientist Rajaram awarded World Food Prize

'It is a collective achievement, rather than that of a single person,' Rajaram told the audience accepting the prestigious award at the Iowa State University, Des Moines, in the US state of Iowa. The award 'honours the innovative spirit of farmers', he said adding that 'without their contributions, my research wouldn't have been possible'.

By crossing winter and spring wheat varieties —which were distinct gene pools that had been isolated from one another for hundreds of years — he created wheat varieties that are disease- and stress-resistant and adaptable to diverse geographical regions and climates. In 2007, Norman Borlaug called Rajaram 'the greatest present-day wheat scientist in the world'. Borlaug is known as the father of the Green Revolution.

Born in a small village in India, Rajaram worked to be the top in his class as he moved through school, and dedicated his life to making direct improvements for farmers and all people who depend on agriculture.
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