Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta awarded the World Food Prize for 2005
in Iowa , USA

Washington, DC
October 19, 2005

Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta was awarded the prestigious World Food Prize for 2005 at a glittering ceremony held at the majestic Iowa State Capitol building in Des Moines on October 13, 2005. The annual award was created by Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug in 1986 for outstanding achievements in food and agriculture aimed at reducing hunger, malnutrition and rural poverty, and is funded by the prominent Ohio philanthropist, John Ruan. The award, which is widely regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in the field of food and agriculture, carries a proclamation by the Governor of Ohio and a citation, an original sculpture created by Saul Bass and a cash award of $ 250,000.

The first World Food Prize was awarded to Dr. M.S. Swaminathan in 1986, and thereafter to four other Indian scientists. Dr. M.V. Gupta was the sixth Indian to get this coveted recognition for his work in improving the nutrition, substantially raising the income and empowering women in over one million poor rural families in Bangladesh, Laos, Vietnam and some African countries by dramatically increasing freshwater fish production. A number of Ambassadors of African countries were present at the ceremony.

Governor Thomas J. Vilsack read out the proclamation honouring Dr. M.V. Gupta. Ambassador Ronen Sen read out a message from Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh felicitating Dr. Gupta for his path-breaking work and for the distinction conferred on him. Sen also recalled the India-US Knowledge Initiative in the field of Agricultural Research launched during the Prime Minister’s visit to the USA, and the role that the eminent Iowan, Dr. Norman Borlaug, and centers of excellence like the Iowa State University would play in taking this initiative forward. The President of the World Food Prize Organisation, Ambassador Quinn, recalled the personal correspondence between George Washington Carver, the former Iowa slave who emerged as a renowned scientist, and Mahatma Gandhi in 1929. Carver had advised his friend, the Mahatma, to augment his vegetarian diet with ingredients like soyabeans to give him the strength to carry out his noble mission.

New Delhi: September 9, 2005, 2005,

On behalf of the Coca Cola system, Dr. Rhona S. Applebaum, Vice President & Chief Regulatory Officer, The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta USA today felicitated Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta, the Indian scientist who has been awarded the $250,000 World Food Prize 2005. Dr. Gupta has been conferred the award for developing a low input, high yield aqua culture technique, for the rural poor in Asia. In India alone, the revolutionary aqua culture technology will benefit millions of fish farmers and their families. At the consumer end as well, the newly developed aqua culture technique is all set to make a huge impact in terms of meeting the nutritional requirement of the world, especially Asia.

At a special felicitation ceremony, Dr. Rhona S. Applebaum, while congratulating Dr. Gupta said, “We at Coca Cola applaud Dr. Gupta for his dedicated and sustained efforts in developing a revolutionary aqua culture technique, which is all set to benefit the rural poor especially in Asia. She further added “Dr. Gupta’s tenacity in finding means to improve the nutrition and living conditions of poor people through low-cost and accessible aquaculture technologies has significantly contributed in bringing about a “Blue revolution” in India. It is indeed an honor for us at Coca Cola to be able to extend our support to his unique methods of fish farming and we wish him all the success for his future endeavors.”

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta said, “The World Food Prize has been a great motivator for me and others like me who are involved in similar work. I have always believed that science by itself will not help to improve the lives of the rural poor. Science must find the right applications for the society at large for it to make a real difference. The same also applies for any business, whose impact on the society can be judged by the level of social involvement it demonstrates. It is an honor to be felicitated by Coca - Cola whose activities on this front are noteworthy and commendable. I thank the company for recognizing and appreciating my efforts.

More About Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta
Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta pioneered the development and dissemination of low-cost techniques for freshwater fish farming by the rural poor, providing farmers and their families with a nutritious food source they had not previously had. Dr. Gupta’s pioneering breeding of carp and other pond fish adaptable to a variety of different environments in rural areas—from Bangladesh to the Mekong Basin countries—combined with his tenacious efforts to help millions of small-holder farmers gain access to innovative aquaculture techniques to produce a vital supply of nutritious food brought a “Blue Revolution” to Southeast Asia and beyond

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