Promoting agricultural innovation

The Prize was named after Prof. Louis Malassis (1918-2007), an esteemed French educator, agronomist and  gro-economist. He was an ardent supporter of farmers' cause and founder of Agropolis and Agropolis Museum. More...>

The Louis MALASSIS International Scientific Prize for Agriculture and Food aims to recognize individuals for their exemplary and promising contribution in promoting agricultural innovation in order to improve food and agricultural systems sustainability as well as contribute to addressing food security and poverty reduction through research, development and capacity building in the North, South or in the Mediterranean.

The Prize is conferred once every two years. The first edition was awarded on 29 March during the 1st Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) held on 28-31 March 2010 in Montpellier.

The two winners each received €20000, a glass trophy and a diploma. This year's Prize is also supported by the Languedoc Roussillon Region.

Dr. Sayre is the Regional Agronomist
for Asia of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).

2010 DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST AWARDEE

Dr. Ken Sayre's most extensive work in agronomy deals with the development and extension of bed-planting technologies for both irrigated and rain-fed crop systems which minimize soil erosion and improve soil fertility while reducing irrigation water and fertilizer use.
He plans to use his prize award to promote these methods that are now being widely used in many Latin American and Central Asian countries as well as in India and China.

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Dr. Restrepo is currently an associate professor at the University of Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia.

2010 YOUNG PROMISING SCIENTIST AWARDEE

Dr. Silvia Restrepo's work is focused on most important diseases
that attack cassava and potato, studying the genetic and phenotypic diversity of the pathogens and their molecular interactions with their hosts. She has also established close contact with Colombian farmers, thus allowing her to better understand issues they face, the limitations and strengths of Columbian agriculture that could be addressed and harnessed to improve production.

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The Award Ceremony was held on 29 March 2010 during the 1st GCARD.

The Louis Malassis International Scientific Prize's Distinguished Scientist category is awarded to those with PhD and 15 years of professional experience while the Young Promising Scientist category is open for those 40 years old and below, with PhD and five years of professional experience.

The 2010 International Jury was chaired by Dr. Guido Gryseels, Director-General of the Central African Museum in Belgium.

The next edition of the Prize is on 2012. 

Download Information Brochure
Contact: malassis-prize2010@agropolis.fr