Ethiopian-born scientist, Gebisa Ejeta, has been awarded the National Medal of Science, the highest honor given to scientists in the United States.
US President Joe Biden recognized Mr. Ejeta for his remarkable work in the field of plant genetics.
Gebisa Ejeta is known as one of the world’s top experts in plant genetics.
He specializes in studying sorghum, a vital food source in Africa.
In 2009, he received the prestigious World Food Prize for developing a special type of sorghum that can resist drought and a harmful weed called Striga, which often damages farms in Africa.
Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop globally, following maize, wheat, rice, and barley.
It’s also the second most important cereal in Africa, especially in regions prone to drought, where it’s considered a staple food.
Mr. Ejeta’s journey started in a small thatched-roof home in a village in central Ethiopia, not far from the capital, Addis Ababa.
He faced challenges accessing education and had to travel 20 kilometers (12 miles) to a nearby town for school, returning home only on weekends.
His experiences of hunger and food scarcity during his childhood greatly influenced his scientific work and his dedication to improving food security.
In one of his interviews with the BBC, he shared his childhood experiences: “When I went to school away from home invariably I was hungry.
In fact, recalling grade school, I can count the number of days where I had breakfast.
With an empty stomach is a challenge.
So I have experienced hunger on a regular basis.”
The president of Purdue University, where Mr. Ejeta works as a professor and leads global food security programs, praised his achievements.
He described Mr. Ejeta as “a role model of perseverance” and “one of the most influential geneticists globally.”
At the White House, President Biden acknowledged Mr. Ejeta’s significant contributions, saying, “By developing sorghum strains that withstand droughts and parasites, he has improved food security for millions.
His advocacy for science, policy, and institutions as key to economic development has lifted the fortunes of farmers and strengthened the souls of nations”
Gebisa Ejeta, who is now an American citizen, was one of nine leading US scientists honored by President Biden during the award ceremony.
The National Medal of Science has been awarded by US presidents since 1959 to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions in various scientific fields.
Mr. Ejeta also received the National Hero Award from the Ethiopian government after winning the World Food Prize in 2009, the highest national honor for Ethiopian citizens.
In 2011, he was appointed to the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development by then-US President Barack Obama.
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