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Micro-irrigation innovater is WFP Laureate

The 2012 World Food Prize Laureate is Dr. Daniel Hillel who developed a micro-irrigation system that has made crop production possible in arid countries of the world. Born in American but raised in Israel as an Israeli citizen, Hillel worked with irrigation specialists to develop the irrigation system that has transformed farming in dryland areas of the Middle East.

World Food Prize Foundation President Dr. Kenneth Quinn says Hillel’s achievements transformed traditional irrigation.

“Our laureate’s new innovative method applies water in small but continuous amounts directly to plant roots with dramatic results in both increased productivity and enhanced water conservation,” said Quinn at Tuesday’s announcement in Iowa.

Hillel will be honored at World Food Prize events in Des Moines, October 18th. The prize was envisioned by founder Dr. Norman Borlaug, father of the ‘Green Revolution’, as the Nobel Prize for agriculture.

AUDIO: Kenneth Quinn, Jonathan Schreier, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton (24:00 mp3)