The World Food Prize could be an award you’ve never heard of — it doesn’t have quite the star power of the Nobel Prizes. The prestige of the prize grows with the realization that increased agricultural production to feed the world is a necessity. At the same time, combating the warming environment protects food production by fighting desertification.
Ohio State University professor Rattan Lal was announced the winner of the World Food Prize last week. Mr. Lal, a soil scientist, tackles food production and environmental protection in his work. It is work that has improved food production worldwide — he’s taken his knowledge to the world, including working in Australia and Nigeria.
Mr. Lal deserves recognition for his work and governments, farmers, and agribusinesses worldwide must take his work to heart and promote the practices he advocates through his research — and his work on the ground.
His insights built upon, and gave scientific oomph to what generations of farmers knew instinctively. Good farmers know the soil must be replenished, but they often rely simply on traditional fertilizers.
Mr. Lal discovered the key to more productive soil meant replacing depleted carbon with crop residue and remains — improvements involve an array of agricultural practices.
By returning crop residue into the soil, not only is the quality of the soil increased, but carbon that would otherwise go into the atmosphere replenished the soil.
Mr. Lal’s work built upon the best ways to replenish the soil and at the same time offered a bonus — less carbon in the atmosphere, slowing the warming of the Earth.
His award drew the attention of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who said “He’s helping the Earth’s estimated 500 million small farmers be faithful stewards of their land through improved management, less soil degradation, and the recycling of nutrients. The billions of people who depend on these farms stand to benefit greatly from his work.”
The food prize does have a Nobel Prize connection. It was created by Nobel Peace prize laureate Norman Borlaug in 1986. And that makes sense: Peace, both within nations and between nations, is promoted by adequate food to feed people. The causes of violence and despair are often rooted in poverty and hunger.
Mr. Lal is contributing through his work to peace in the world.
First Published June 20, 2020, 4:00 a.m.
