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By Clover Ng
38 year old agriculture scientist from Kenya will receive an international award; Norman Borlaug Award for field research and application in recognition for innovation in food security. Mutegi will be presented with the award on World Food Day- October 16, in Des Moines, Iowa as part of the 2013 Borlaug Dialogue international symposium. The World Food Prize Foundation and the Rockfeller Foundation on 5 Sep announced this piece of good news during the African Green Revolution Forum. The annual Norman Borlaug Award aims to commend agriculture researchers under the age of 40 who has shown intellectual courage and determination in the fight to eliminate global hunger and poverty. Mutegi led efforts in developing a biocontrol solution that significantly reduces aflatoxin; a deadly mold that grows in maize and other grains during production, harvest, storage and processing. She wanted to develop this solution because aflatoxin once caused a fatal outbreak in eastern Kenya during the time period of 2004-2005 and this is also a worldwide health problem contracted by consuming milk or meat from livestock containing contaminated grains. The solution produced is known as KE01. Not only is it affordable for farmers, it is also environmentally safe, according to the World Food Prize Foundation. The president of World Food Prize Foundation, Kenneth Quinn mentioned that Dr Mutegi is an inspiration to other young scientists around the world by looking at how she tackled a critical problem and translated her own scientific knowledge into practice in aiding farmers and policymakers improve on food safety for the entire region. Dr Mutegi has helped train more than 300 agricultural extension specialists in Kenya and worked with thousands of farmers, maize traders and millers to increasing their awareness of aflatoxin. With this new breakthrough, Kenya’s parliament has decided to establish a committee to study sources of contamination in maize and other grains and to invest in training maize farmers. Dr Mutegi did not stop her work there and is leading a project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a biological long-term solution to managing aflatoxin. This is great news for someone like Dr Mutegi who has dedicated her life and years of education in finding solutions to aflatoxin.
By Clover Ng
