World food prize
Gurdev Khush, head of the International Rice Research Institute’s plant breeding, genetics and biochemistry division and Henry Beachell, a former IRRI staff member, have won the 1996 World Food Prize.
The award recognizes the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food.
Khush has led the rice breeding program at the institute for 29 years, during which more than 300 new rice lines have been developed. Many of the lines developed have been used to produce higher-yielding varieties.
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Beachell, who retired as head of the institute’s breeding department in 1972, shares the prize for his role in leading a team of scientists who developed the world’s first high-yielding rice variety, called IR8, in 1966.
Former pool delegate dies
George Alexander Wilson, a delegate for Saskatchewan Wheat Pool from 1966 to 1976, passed away Feb. 9 at his home in Saskatoon.
Wilson served in district 13, subdistrict four and farmed in the Pike Lake area. He served on various agriculture-related groups while farming, sold his farm in 1982 and moved to Saskatoon with his wife Jean.
AgrEvo contributions
The University of Manitoba agriculture building fund got word of a financial boost from AgrEvo Canada Inc. in early February.
The contribution will be based on the company’s sales of Liberty Link canola seed. AgrEvo will donate 25 cents for every acre’s worth of Ultrabred Innovator seed sold this spring.
Alberta Pool sees STARS
Alberta Wheat Pool has donated $100,000 to the Alberta Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service Foundation.
The one-time capital contribution was announced by pool president Alex Graham, and is earmarked for the Air Rescue Seconds Count campaign designed to raise $7.5 million to enable STARS to buy two helicopters.
