President Joe Biden awarded the National Medal of Science to Gebisa Ejeta, a
Purdue University professor who developed sorghum hybrids that have helped feed
millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa.
Professor Gebisa is a Distinguished Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics, and International Agriculture, Executive Director of the Purdue Center for Global Food Security and Purdue University
Presidential Fellow for Food Security and Sustainable Global Development.
He received the 2009 World Food Prize for his research on sorghum, an ancient grain
that is a staple food for millions of people in Africa and Asia.
His work has helped to create sorghum hybrids that are resistant to both severe
drought and the destructive parasitic Striga weed. These hybrids have helped to
increase sorghum production in sub-Saharan Africa by up to 50%, which has helped
to reduce hunger and poverty in the region.
Professor Gebisa Ejeta was born and raised in Ethiopia and earned his bachelor’s
degree from Haramaya University. He received his master’s and PhD degrees in
plant breeding and genetics from Purdue, where he has been a faculty member
since 1984.
In addition to his scientific achievements, Professor Gebisa is also a passionate
advocate for agricultural development and food security in Africa. He has served on
numerous boards and commissions, including the African Union’s High-Level Panel
on Food Security and Nutrition.
Source: Purdue University
