The World Food Prize is awarded
for a specific, exceptionally significant, individual achievement at any
point along the full range of the food production and distribution
chain.
To submit a nomination, please visit this form. The next round of nominations will be due May 1, 2014.
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 and packaging; 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 public advocacy.
- This exceptionally significant achievement must be shown to have
resulted in a demonstrable increase in the quantity, quality or
availability of, or access to, food for a substantial number of people.
- It must be clearly shown that this increase 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).
- 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.
- The number of people affected as well as the extent of the
change they experienced will be a substantial factor in evaluating the
relative significance of the various individual achievements being
considered.
- Substantial weight will also be given to the complexity of the
problem solved and the degree of difficulty involved in achieving
success. Similarly, consideration will be given to the degree of
ingenuity and determination involved in attaining this change or
advancement.
- 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 Youth Institute at the time of the Award
Ceremony.
- 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. If the Selection Committee judges that this
accomplishment was simultaneously attained by two or more individuals
working separately, the Selection Committee may recommend that the Prize
be shared.
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. 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
joint nominations meet this criteria, and in cases where it judges this
standard has not been met, to limit the number of persons being
considered.
- It is intended that all elements of the food chain 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 production and distribution chain in the selection of the Laureate.
Nomination Documentation
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.
To submit a nomination, please visit this online form. The following list details the information that will be required.
- Nominating Organization: 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 Name: Nominee’s name, current position, mailing address, e-mail address and telephone number.
- Biographical Information: Date and place of birth, education, and a resume or CV detailing the nominee's positions held, professional affiliations, honors, and awards.
- Photograph: Photo of the nominee.
- Synopsis: Synopsis of the nominee's achievement, in 150 words or less.
- Statement of Achievement: In no more than two pages, describe the nominee’s specific achievement, which has significantly increased the quality, quantity, or availability of, or access to, food. The nominee should be nominated for one specific, measurable and sustainable achievement.
- Statement of Impact: In no more than two pages, describe the impact of the nominee's achievement in terms of: the number of people affected; the directness of the impact; the geographical boundaries of the impact; and its effect over time on the well-being of the people affected through either enhanced health, nutrition and quality of life, or reduced levels of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. 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 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 or supplemental data regarding the nominee’s achievement as well as its impact on the people affected.
- Supporting Documents: Documents should be provided that support the nomination including, but not limited to, 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 nomination. Please send only one copy 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 format (.doc or .docx).
Eligibility Period:
All submissions must include the date of the nomination. 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.
The Nomination and Selection Procedure
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's 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 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.
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. M.S. Swaminathan. 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.
