Cary Fowler and Geoffrey Hawtin have been named the 2024 World Food Prize laureates for their pioneering work in agricultural preservation. The announcement, made at the U.S. State Department on Thursday, May 9, celebrates the big role the pair has played in preserving crop diversity.
Around two decades ago, Fowler and Hawtin came up with the concept of a “doomsday vault” — a seed repository nestled within an Arctic mountain. Now, their brainchild, Svalbard Global Seed Vault, stands as a cornerstone of the planet’s emergency food resources.
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The prestigious award, accompanied by a $500,000 prize, is meant to show the significance of their contributions. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commended their efforts, highlighting the critical need for preserving the planet’s crop diversity amid climate change.
Fowler and Hawtin’s initiative stemmed from concerns about climate change threatening agriculture. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault serves as a safety net against potential world disasters or changes, ensuring the seeds will be available for future generations.
As World Food Prize laureates, Fowler and Hawtin said that they are committed to advocating for increased funding for seed banks around the world. Their vision is a resilient food supply that can withstand global environmental changes.
The World Food Prize awards are given out annually to those whose efforts help combat world hunger.
[JACK AYLMER]
EVER HEARD OF THE DOOMSDAY VAULT?
WELL, CARY FOWLER AND GEOFFREY-HAWTIN, THE GUYS WHO CAME UP WITH IT WERE JUST NAMED THE 2024 WORLD FOOD PRIZE LAUREATES FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING INVENTION.
THE IDEA CAME ABOUT TWO DECADES AGO TO CREATE A “DOOMSDAY VAULT”–
A SEED VAULT TUCKED INTO AN ARCTIC MOUNTAIN.
FOWLER TOLD THE HEINZ AWARDS ABOUT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT APPROVED HIS WILD PROJECT.
[CARRY FOWLER]
THE DAY CAME WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO PRESENT IT TO THE GOVERNMENT, SO I PRESENTED THE PLAN AND AT THE END HE SAID LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT, ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THIS DIVERSITY OF SEEDS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NATURAL RESOURCES ON EARTH? I SAID YES, THAT’S RIGHT.AND THEN HE SAID SVALBARD IS THE BEST PLACE WE CAN PUT IT TO PROTECT IT. AND THEN HE SAID, ‘HOW COULD WE SAY, NO?’
[JACK AYLMER]
FAST-FORWARD TO TODAY AND THEIR BRAINCHILD THE SVALBARD SEVAL-BARD GLOBAL SEED VAULT IS A GAME-CHANGER IN PRESERVING EARTH’S FOOD DIVERSITY.
[ANTONY BLINKEN]
“THIS REPOSITORY HAS GROWN TO HOLD SEED OF MORE THAN ONE MILLION CROP VARIETIES.”
[JACK AYLMER]
THAT’S WAS SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN, WHO HAILED THEIR CRITICAL ROLE IN PRESERVING CROP DIVERSITY.
THE AWARD ANNOUNCED AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON THURSDAY–
COMES WITH A LOT OF PRAISE.
BUT IT’S NOT JUST RECOGNITION.
IT ALSO COMES WITH A 500-THOUSAND DOLLAR PRIZE.
THE IDEA FOR THE VAULT SPROUTED FROM CONCERNS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE.
WITH SCIENTISTS SAYING CLIMATE CHANGE WILL RAMP UP THREATS LIKE PESTS AND DISEASES… HAVING A BACKUP SEED VAULT BECAME CRUCIAL.
AND NOW THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE LAUREATES SAY THEY’RE ON A MISSION TO SECURE MORE FUNDING FOR SEED BANKS WORLDWIDE.
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