Gebisa Ejeta, a scientist born in Ethiopia, has been awarded the National Medal of Science, which is the highest honor given to scientists in the United States.
US President Joe Biden gave Mr Ejeta a medal because of his excellent work in studying plant genetics.
Mr Ejeta is known as one of the best plant scientists in the world.
He focuses on studying sorghum, which is a common food source in Africa.
In 2009, Mr. Ejeta received a special award called the World Food Prize for creating a type of sorghum plant that is able to survive when there isn’t much water and can also fight off a harmful weed called Striga that often causes problems for farmers in Africa.
Sorghum is the fifth most important type of grain crop in the world, ranked after maize, wheat, rice, and barley.
It is also the second most important grain in Africa and many countries in Africa consider it a staple food, especially in areas where there is often not enough water.
Mr Ejeta grew up in a small house made of thatched materials in a village in central Ethiopia, which was not too far from the capital city of Addis Ababa.
But, he could only go to school sometimes because it was far away. He had to travel 20km (12 miles) to another town to go to class and he would come back home on weekends.
His difficult childhood, where he often went hungry and didn’t have enough food, has greatly impacted his scientific research throughout the years. This has motivated him to work towards improving the availability of food for everyone.
He talked about feeling hungry when he was a kid during an interview with the BBC.
When I went to a school far from my home, I always felt hungry. Actually, when I think back to elementary school, there were only a few days where I actually ate breakfast.
He said that going to school in the morning without eating breakfast is difficult. So I often feel hungry.
The president of Purdue University in Indiana, where Mr. Ejeta works as a professor and leads global food security programs, praised Mr. Ejeta for his determination and called him an influential geneticist.
“Our university is very proud and happy to receive another important and well-deserved award,” said Mung Chiang, the president of Purdue University.
Mr Ejeta, who is a citizen of the United States, was one of nine top scientists from the US who received an award at the White House from President Biden on Tuesday.
President Biden stated at the award ceremony that he has improved food security for millions by creating types of sorghum that can survive droughts and fight off pests.
“He believes that science, policy, and institutions are important for economic growth. He has helped farmers and strengthened nations through his support. ”
US presidents have been giving the National Medal of Science since 1959 to people who have made important contributions to different fields of science and deserve special recognition.
Mr Ejeta was given the National Hero Award by the Ethiopian government right after he won the World Food Prize in 2009. This award is the highest honor that the Ethiopian government gives to its citizens.
In 2011, Barack Obama, the former US President, chose him to be part of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development.
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Ethiopian scientist receives top honour in National Medal of Science
