Prize Laureates

PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT (IFAD)

For his outstanding leadership in putting Africa´s smallholder farmers at the center of the global agricultural agenda. Read more

Eric Kaduru

Dr. Ousmane Badiane

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, ETHIOPIA

For his leadership in devising scientific approaches to landscape and soil fertility management that have won widespread support from farmers, leading to the reversal of land degradation in Ethiopia, encouraged the large-scale uptake of efficient fertilizer use, and

CEO, FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY ANALYSIS NETWORK (FANRPAN)

For her years of innovative research and advocacy work, that strengthened food and environmental policies in southern Africa, and for her global leadership in bringing civil society influence to bear on major issues, like the role of agriculture in confronting climate change.

FOUNDER AND CEO, SMALLHOLDERS FOUNDATION, NIGERIA

For his tireless promotion of sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation through educational radio programs for smallholder farmers, which reach 250,000 listeners daily, as well as through school and community gardens focused on entrepreneurial development.

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL RESOURCES, RWANDA

For her outstanding leadership in the transformation of Rwanda´s food security and agricultural development, which was achieved in a remarkably short time and has turned the country into a farming success story that neighboring countries are eager to repeat.

FORMER CEO, ETHIOPIAN COMMODITY EXCHANGE (ECX)

For her visionary leadership in creating a transparent and efficient market for smallholder coffee producers, which since ECX´s inauguration in 2008, has boosted the volume of coffee traded by more than four times, while increasing farmers´ share of the final export price from 38 to 65 percent.

CHAIRMAN, EQUITY BANK LIMITED AND NATIONAL OIL CORPORATION OF KENYA LIMITED

For his selfless dedication to providing millions of smallholder farmers with access to affordable savings and credit – a feat he accomplished through the development of pioneering services, such as mobile rural banking and large-scale agro-dealer financing.

For its extraordinary success in making smallholder farming a viable and sustainable business, particularly for women, through measures such as the provision of extension services and a commodity exchange, which have contributed vitally to Malawi´s recent advances in food production.

FOUNDER AND CEO, AFRICA HARVEST BIOTECH FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL (AHBFI), KENYA

For her remarkable ability to merge solid science – using tissue culture techniques, for example, to achieve higher yielding, disease-free banana production – with a holistic value chain approach that has improved access to markets and microfinance for thousands of banana producers.

Victor Mfinanga

FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, SHAMBANI GRADUATES ENTERPRISES CO LIMITED, TANZANIA

For his pioneering work on the development of a dynamic livestock value chain that has created new market and income opportunities for female Maasai cattle keepers, while supplying urban consumers with nutritious value-added milk products.

INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT, ALLIANCE FOR A GREEN REVOLUTION IN AFRICA, KENYA – THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION, USA

For his path-breaking efforts to make agricultural inputs more widely available to smallholder farmers, through an innovative model to transform village shops into a network of trained and certified agro-dealers as well as his strong engagement with African leaders on fertilizer supply issues.

FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, VICTORIA SEEDS LTD, UGANDA

For demonstrating how a determined and resourceful entrepreneur can develop a successful, export-oriented seed enterprise, while fostering the wider development of Africa´s vital seed sector by advocating for more favorable policies and institutional frameworks.

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, GENERAL UNION OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES, MOZAMBIQUE

For her contribution to rebuilding the country´s agricultural economy after a devastating civil war through the establishment of a network of agricultural cooperatives embracing thousands of smallholder farmers and inspiring women to play key roles in national development.

FOUNDER, OF THE MASENO INTER-CHRISTIAN CHILD SELF HELP GROUP, KENYA

For helping eradicate malnourishment and raise incomes among the most vulnerable members of rural communities through the creation of local networks to share low-cost innovations from agricultural research aimed at achieving sustainable small-scale food production.

PRIME MINISTER, ETHIOPIA

For his political contributions towards improved agricultural productivity and food security in his own country, and the African Green Revolution at large.