Kigali: September 7, 2022 – Eric Yirenkyi Danquah was today announced the
winner of the 2022 Africa Food Prize at the AGRF2022 Summit in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Africa Food Prize is the preeminent annual award that recognizes outstanding
individuals or institutions that are leading the effort to change the reality of farming
in Africa.
Eric Yirenkyi Danquah has been celebrated for his outstanding expertise,
leadership and grantsmanship skills that led to the establishment and development
of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) as a world class centre
for training plant breeders in Africa for Africa. Danquah is a Ghanaian plant
geneticist, professor, founding director of the WACCI and former director of the
Biotechnology Centre at the University of Ghana.
Danquah founded the WACCI in 2007 at the University of Ghana, with the “aim of
training a new generation of plant breeders to develop improved varieties of staple
crops in West and Central Africa”. Through his leadership, WACCI attracted more
than $30M US dollars of research and develpment funding and trained more than
120 PhD and 49 MPhil students in Seed Science and Technology from 19 African
countries. This led to more than 60 improved seed varieties, including superior
maize hybrid varieties, which will help boost yield for farmers and contribute
towards food and nutrition security.
Today, the institution boasts of a new molecular biology/tissue culture laboratory,
a bioinformatics platform, and cutting-edge university farms including a
US$300,000 ultra-modern screen house for controlled experiments.
This year’s winner selection is a reflection of the importance of promoting science
and technology as tools to develop solutions for sustainable food systems.
The winner was chosen by a preeminent judging panel of leaders in African
agriculture, comprising Africa Food Prize Committee President H.E. Olusegun
Obasanjo (outgoing Chair), Dr. Vera Songwe, Dr. Eleni Z. Gabre- Madhin, Dr.
Kamau-Rutenberg, Mr. Birama Sidibé and Prof. Sheryl Hendriks, Dr Ndidi
Okonkwo Nwuneli.
H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo said:
“It is a great privilege to be able to honour and shine a spotlight on the truly
remarkable achievements of Dr. Danquah. His leadership in genetic innovation
inspires the future of food security and nutrition in Africa has made a tangible
difference to how a new generation is working to improve African food systems.
He has been, and continues to be, a true inspiration for many young minds. On
behalf of the African Food Prize Committee, I would like to extend my warmest
congratulations and appreciation for his continuing endeavors.”
The Africa Food Prize 2022 was sponsored by Corteva, Kenya Commercial Bank,
UPL and AGRA.
About The Africa Food Prize
The Africa Food Prize is the preeminent award recognizing an outstanding
individual or institution that is leading the effort to change the reality of farming in
Africa—from a struggle to survive to a business that thrives.
The US $100,000 prize celebrates Africans who are taking control of Africa’s
agriculture agenda. It puts a spotlight on bold initiatives and technical innovations
that can be replicated across the continent to create a new era of food security and
economic opportunity for all Africans.
The Prize Committee considers the following criteria for the Prize:
• Contribution to reducing poverty and hunger and/or improving food and nutrition
security in measurable terms
• Contribution to providing a vital source of income and/or employment in
measurable terms
• Potential for transformative change through scalability, replication, and
sustainability
• Increased awareness and cooperation among African audiences and
organizations
https://africafoodprize.org
for details and any inquires, please contact:
Boaz Blackie Keizire
Head of the Africa Food Prize Secretariat
+254733733445
BKeizire@agra.org
To register for virtual attendance at the AGRF 2022 Summit visit:
https://summit2022.agrf.org/en/registration