Cary Fowler and Geoffrey Hawtin awarded 2024 World Food Prize accolades – Food Tank

Cary Fowler and Geoffrey Hawtin have been honored as the 2024 World Food Prize Laureates for their efforts in establishing the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. This prestigious award recognizes their significant contributions to global crop biodiversity conservation and the safeguarding of over 6,000 varieties of crops and culturally significant plants, which have played a crucial role in combatting hunger worldwide. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commended the work of the awardees in addressing global food security challenges.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, located in Norway, is commonly referred to as the “Doomsday Vault” and houses more than 1 million seed samples, with the capacity to store up to 4.5 million different varieties. Established in 2008, the Seed Vault aims to protect global food security and biodiversity in the event of pandemics, natural disasters, and other catastrophic events.

In 2004, Cary Fowler, working with the CGIAR, conducted a study to identify the optimal location for the preservation of seeds. Despite facing skepticism initially, Fowler persisted in his vision to establish a global seed vault, eventually becoming the first Chair of the Vault’s International Advisory Council. Geoffrey Hawtin, another key figure in the Seed Vault’s creation, was part of the original study team that assessed the feasibility of the project and developed its technical specifications. Additionally, Hawtin founded the Crop Trust in 2004, which continues to provide financial support for the Seed Vault’s operations.

Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director of the Crop Trust, praised the contributions of Hawtin and Fowler, emphasizing their role in ensuring the preservation and accessibility of plant genetic resources. The Seed Vault serves as an essential backup for genebanks worldwide, enabling researchers, plant breeders, and farmers to access a diverse range of crops for their work. Moving forward, Fowler hopes that the recognition of the Seed Vault through the World Food Prize will inspire further investments in research and development to enhance food and nutrition security for the growing global population.

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