Laureates

What is a World Food Prize Laureate?

A World Food Prize Laureate is an individual who has been awarded the World Food Prize, the preeminent international award for food and agriculture.

This prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievements in improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. Laureates are honored for their significant contributions to advancing human development by enhancing food production, promoting food security and reducing hunger. The award celebrates individuals whose work has had a profound impact on the global food system, reflecting innovative science, leadership and dedication to addressing critical issues in agriculture and food security.

Announcement:

The selection of the Laureate was announced in New York City in 2026. Explore the latest Laureate Announcement and revisit past announcements celebrating leaders in global food security and agriculture.

Award Ceremony:

Each October, around World Food Day, the Laureate is honored at the prestigious Laureate Award Ceremony. Explore past Laureate Award Ceremonies showcasing achievements in food security and agricultural leadership.

Monetary Prize:

The Laureate receives a cash prize of $500,000, recognizing their outstanding contributions to improving global food security.

Recognition and Prestige:

Winning the World Food Prize brings international recognition and prestige, highlighting the Laureate’s work and impact on global food security and agriculture.

Presentation of Work:

The Laureate has the opportunity to present their work at the Borlaug Dialogue, sharing their insights and innovations with a global audience of experts, policymakers and leaders in agriculture and food security.

Media Attention:

The Laureate’s achievements are publicized through various media channels, increasing awareness of their contributions and potentially attracting further support and collaboration for their initiatives.

Networking Opportunities:

The Laureate gains access to a network of past Laureates, influential figures and organizations in the field of food and agriculture, fostering opportunities for collaboration and furthering their work.

Legacy and Impact:

Winning the World Food Prize enhances the Laureate’s legacy, cementing their place among the most influential contributors to global food security. Their work continues to inspire and guide future efforts in the field.

Meet the Laureates

World Food Prize Categories

  • Animal Science/Aquaculture
  • Soil Science/Water/Conservation
  • Nutrition/Health
  • Plant Science/Seed Science
  • Plant Pathology/Crop Protection
  • Food Technology/Food Safety
  • Policy/Research/Extension
  • Infrastructure/Emergency Relief
  • Poverty Alleviation/Hunger

Stats

Since 1987, 56 individuals have been awarded the World Food Prize. Of those Laureates, 21 countries are represented from regions spanning the globe.

Interactive world mapAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAntigua – Antigua & BarbudaBarbuda – Antigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaHeard Island and McDonald Islands – AustraliaCocos – AustraliaNorfolk Island – AustraliaCoral Sea Islands – AustraliaChristmas Island – AustraliaAshmore and Cartier Islands – AustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanThe Bahamas – BahamasBahrainBaikonurBajo Nuevo BankBangladeshBarbadosBelarusFlemish Brabant – BelgiumWalloon Brabant – BelgiumBrussels Capital Region – BelgiumBelizeBeninBhutanBir TawilBoliviaFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Bosnia & HerzegovinaRepublika Srpska – Bosnia & HerzegovinaBrčko – Bosnia & HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBrazilian IslandBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCape Verde – Cabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCentral African RepublicChadBritish Indian Ocean Territory – Chagos ArchipelagoChilePeople's Republic of China – ChinaColombiaComorosCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusUnited Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus – Cyprus buffer zoneCzech Republic – CzechiaIvory Coast – Côte d’IvoireDemocratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkGreenland – DenmarkFaroe Islands – DenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland Islands – Falkland Islands / Islas MalvinasFederated States of MicronesiaFijiFinlandÅland – FinlandFrench Guiana – FranceSaint Martin – FranceFranceNew Caledonia – FranceSaint Pierre and Miquelon – FranceFrench Polynesia – FranceFrench Southern and Antarctic Lands – FranceMartinique – FranceGuadeloupe – FranceSaint Barthélemy – FranceRéunion – FranceWallis and Futuna – FranceClipperton Island – FranceGabonThe Gambia – GambiaGeorgiaAdjara – GeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGrenadaGuantanamo Bay Naval BaseGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranKurdistan Region – IraqIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau – MacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmar – Myanmar (Burma)NamibiaNauruNepalSint Maarten – NetherlandsNetherlandsCuraçao – NetherlandsAruba – NetherlandsCaribbean Netherlands – NetherlandsNew ZealandTokelau – New ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueKorean Demilitarized Zone – North KoreaNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – Northern CyprusNorwayJan Mayen – NorwaySvalbard – NorwayBouvet Island – NorwayOmanPakistanPalauGaza Strip – PalestineWest Bank – PalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaAutonomous Region of Bougainville – Papua New GuineaParacel IslandsParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalMadeira – PortugalAzores – PortugalQatarRepublic of the CongoRomaniaRussiaRwandaSamoaSan MarinoSaudi ArabiaScarborough ShoalSenegalVojvodina – SerbiaSerbiaSerranilla BankSeychellesSiachen GlacierSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsPuntland – SomaliaSomaliaSomalilandSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsKorean Demilitarized Zone – South KoreaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSouthern Patagonian Ice FieldSpainSpratly IslandsSri LankaSaint Kitts and Nevis – St. Kitts & NevisSaint Lucia – St. LuciaSaint Vincent and the Grenadines – St. Vincent & GrenadinesSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandUnited Nations Disengagement Observer Force – SyriaSyriaSão Tomé and Príncipe – São Tomé & PríncipeTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaZanzibar – TanzaniaThailandEast Timor – Timor-LesteTogoTongaTrinidad and Tobago – Trinidad & TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTuvaluTurkey – TürkiyeUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesDhekelia Cantonment – United KingdomNorthern Ireland – United KingdomAkrotiri Sovereign Base Area – United KingdomWales – United KingdomEngland – United KingdomScotland – United KingdomTurks and Caicos Islands – United KingdomPitcairn Islands – United KingdomMontserrat – United KingdomAnguilla – United KingdomBritish Virgin Islands – United KingdomCayman Islands – United KingdomBermuda – United KingdomSaint Helena – United KingdomJersey – United KingdomGuernsey – United KingdomIsle of Man – United KingdomUnited States of America – United StatesJohnston Atoll – United StatesUnited States Virgin Islands – United StatesPuerto Rico – United StatesAmerican Samoa – United StatesGuam – United StatesNorthern Mariana Islands – United StatesJarvis Island – United StatesBaker Island – United StatesHowland Island – United StatesWake Island – United StatesMidway Atoll – United StatesNavassa Island – United StatesPalmyra Atoll – United StatesKingman Reef – United StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican CityVenezuelaVietnamWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabwe

19 academic institutions have had more than one Laureate as a student, fellow, faculty, or administrator, including: 

  • Wageningen University
  • Columbia University
  • Cornell University
  • Harvard University
  • Indian Agricultural Research Institute
  • Kansas State University
  • Michigan State University
  • North Carolina State University
  • Oxford University
  • Punjab Agricultural University
  • Purdue University
  • Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University
  • Stanford University
  • Texas A&M University
  • University of Arizona
  • University of California
  • University of Illinois 
  • University of Massachusetts – Amherst
  • University of Sydney