The Yara Prize 2008 is awarded jointly to Florence Wambugu of Kenya and Victor Mfinanga of Tanzania, for their respective contributions to the African Green Revolution through improving food security and developing agricultural value chains.
The fourth Yara Prize was awarded Wambugu for her many distinguished achievements in research and networking in East Africa, and to Mfinanga for his determined entrepreneurship in establishing a dairy business in Tanzania.
As a researcher and networker, Florence Wambugu has several significant achievements to her merit. She has mainly focused on the use of biotechnology for improving crops, especially the development and introduction of disease-free tissue culture for banana cultivation. This has resulted in greatly increased yields, providing income for small-scale producers (mainly women) and improved nutrition for consumers.
As an economist and entrepreneur, Victor Mfinanga, has ventured into a business benefiting both rural cattle keepers and urban milk consumers. He has developed a value chain which creates market access and income opportunities for mainly Maasai (women) milk producers and supplies the market with processed milk products. His work serves as an example of determination and visionary leadership.
The laureates will be awarded their prizes at the Award Ceremony in Oslo, on August 27, 2008.
