Ugandan scientist scoops Shs851m food study prize
Dr Robert Mwanga
KAMPALA- A Ugandan is one of four scientists who have won $250,000 (about Shs851.2m) for their efforts in fighting malnutrition.
According to a June 28 press statement, the four won the World Food Prize for proving “science matters, and that when matched with dedication, it can change people’s lives”.
The Ugandan, Dr Robert Mwanga, is the Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP) Uganda Country Manager.
The three other winners are Dr Maria Andrade from Mozambique and Dr Jan Low of the Peru–based CIP, and Dr Howarth Bouis, the founder of HarvestPlus at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Dr Andrade, Dr Mwanga and Dr Low were honoured for their work in developing the single–most successful example of biofortification, the orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP).
Dr Andrade and Dr Mwanga bred the Vitamin A-enriched OFSP using genetic material from CIP and other sources.
On the other hand, Dr Low structured the nutrition studies and programmes that convinced almost two million households in 10 different African countries to plant, buy and consume this nutritionally fortified food.
The President of the World Food Prize, Mr Kenneth M. Quinn, said the winners “are truly worthy to be named as the recipients of the award that Dr Norman E. Borlaug created to be seen as the Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture”.
“The impact of the work of all four winners will be felt around the globe, but particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. It is particularly poignant that among our 2016 recipients are two African scientists who are working on solutions to tackle malnutrition in Africa, for Africa,” Quinn said.
Dr Andrade, Dr Mwanga, and Dr Low and Dr Bouis will receive the prize at the Iowa State Capitol building in Des Moines, Iowa in US on October 13. The $250,000 will be divided equally among the four recipients.
Contacted on Wednesday, June 29 for a comment, Dr Mwanga said he is elated.
“It is wonderful news,” Dr Mwanga said. “I am aware; the news broke last evening.”
Dr Mwanga, who is now the CIP Uganda Country Manager, said many children below six years, expectant and lactating women are vulnerable to Vitamin A deficiency.
He said some of the foods rich in Vitamin A, such a liver, fish – cod liver oil, are out of reach of many people.
Since the sweet potato is one of the three main food crops in Uganda, Uganda and other countries pioneered the breeding of sweet potato to incorporate Vitamin A, a vitamin vital to boosting the body’s immune system, to fight diseases like night blindness.
“Vitamin A deficiency is a silent killer. In Uganda, there are years when we lose 10,000 children because of Vitamin deficiencies,” Dr Mwanga said.
