The John Chrystal Award was established in 2001 in the spirit of John Chrystal's commitment to enriching Iowa's relationship with the world and his belief that everyone is entitled to a sense of dignity and adequate food. The award is presented annually to the intern who most strongly reflects Mr. Chrystal’s commitment.
“The World Food Prize is a truly unique and transformative organization. My time in China as a Borlaug-Ruan intern pushed me to adapt to a new cultures, introduced me to an incredible international friend group and inspired me to pursue a life in food security. I have not yet had any other experience which can match the power of setting aside the life I had become comfortable living, moving to the opposite side of the planet and exploring ways that I could make a serious contribution to the search for solutions to the world’s most pressing issues," Riensche said.
Hans is a student at Iowa State University, majoring in Agricultural Business.
Hans received his award prior to the awarding of the 2018 World Food Prize to Dr. Lawrence Haddad and Dr. David Nabarro both of the United Kingdom.