Legislators, council members, diplomats, college representatives and media officials gathered at the Ruan Center in Des Moines Thursday to announce the recipients of this year’s World Food Prize. Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, president of The World Food Prize Foundation, announced that the $250,000 Millennium World Food Prize has been awarded to biochemist Dr. Evangelina Villegas of Mexico and plant geneticist Dr. Surinder K. Vasal of India. Villegas is the first woman to ever receive The World Food Prize, which recognizes individuals without regard to race, religion, nationality or political beliefs. Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace prize created the World Food Prize in 1986 to recognize the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. “If you’ve ever seen children dying, then you know and understand why Dr. Borlaug created this prize and understand the significance of the two recipients,” Quinn said. The World Food Prize was awarded to Villegas and Vasal for their “Nobel-like” achievements in developing their “miracle maize.” It took Villegas and Vasal three decades to develop the corn, or maize, that has both high-quality amino acids and an almost completely normal grain type. Their quality protein maize (QPM) can improve health and save lives, offering 90 percent of the nutritional value of skim milk. Quinn said that with the work of the two recipients, 2.5 million acres of the maize has been planted. Villegas has paved a way for young women scientists across the world, Quinn said. “Dr. Villegas will be an inspiration for young girls and Mexicans and everywhere in between to pursue careers in sciences,” he said. The ISU College of Agriculture was the secretary to The World Food Prize prior to this year. Representatives from the college still attend the reviewing process. Over 4,000 applicants are nominated for the prize by industries and organizations across the world. Final recommendations were sent to an advisory council made up of various individuals, including Borlaug, former presidents George Bush and Jimmy Carter, Elizabeth Dole and eight others. John Ruan, chairman of The World Food Prize Foundation, said his endowment will continue to support individuals looking to advance food production. “The population is at six billion and, at the rate we are going, will reach 10 billion by 2030,” he said. “Food security brought about by QPM is a fundamental advance to help the poor break the cycle of poverty and malnutrition.” Villegas and Vasal will be honored Oct. 12 at the State Capitol and Oct. 16 in New York City.