One of the most pressing global issues 100 years ago was the threat that overpopulation would lead to a global food shortage. The world now has a population six times greater, and there is still enough food to feed everyone. This is primarily due to advances in food production technology which have resulted in higher food productivity. One of the contributors to improved food availability is Dr Florence Wambugu, who is a joint winner of the 2008 Yara Prize.
The Yara Prize recognises significant contributions to the reduction of hunger and poverty in Africa. Dr Wambugu, who is the CEO of Africa Harvest, has been working for many years on techniques for using tissue cultures to enhance the yields of sweet potatoes and bananas. She uses biotechnology to create disease-resistant high-yielding varieties, and she has succeeded in almost doubling the typical yield of bananas.
Indigenous crops are considered especially suitable for withstanding harsh climatic conditions, and it is therefore critical for Kenya to improve its yields of cassavas, bananas and potatoes. Dr Wambugu’s efforts have not been uncontroversial, with many people being concerned about possible dangers associated with genetically modified crops.