Speaker Details

Prof Gurdev Khush

Biography

Dr khush was born in India. After receiving early education in India he studied at University of California Davis(UCD)and received Ph.D. in Genetics in 1960.After serving on the faculty of UCD for seven years he joined International Rice Research Institue, Philippines as Plant Breeder in 1967and was promoted as Head of Plant Breeding Department in 1972.He led the institute's rice breeding Program for 35 years. High yielding, disease and insect resistant varieties developed under his leadership and their progenies are now grown on 60% of world riceland and world rice production has doubled in a 30 year period. For his contributions to world food security Dr Khush received JapanPrize in 1987,World Food Prize in 1996,and Wolf Prize in 2000.Dr Khush was elected to some of the world's most prestigious academies such as Indian National Science Academy, The Third world Academy of Sciences, U.S. National Academy of Sciences and The Royal Society.

Abstract

Improving the Nutritional Status of Food Crops

Access to healthy diet is a fundamental right of every human being on this planet.Yet 800 million people, mostly in developing countries go to bed hungry every day.Micronutrient deficiencies affect 3 billion people. Malnutrition hinders the development of human potential and nation's social and economic development. One of the best approaches to improve the nutritional staus of the poor is to raise the micronutrient content of the staple crops of the poor. Harvest Plus program of CGIAR aims to develop food crops with higher level of iron, zinc and vitamin A through plant breeding and biotechnological approaches. Considerable progress has been made which will be reviewed