Florence Wambugu facts for kids

Florence Muringi Wambugu (born August 23, 1953) is a famous Kenyan scientist. She studies plant diseases (a plant pathologist) and viruses (a virologist). Dr. Wambugu is well-known for supporting the use of biotechnology. This is a way to use living things to make food grow better. Her goal is to help increase food production in Africa.

Becoming a Scientist

Florence Wambugu went to the University of Nairobi in Kenya. There, she earned her first degree in botany (the study of plants) and zoology (the study of animals).

Later, she traveled to the United States. In 1984, she earned her Master of Science degree from North Dakota State University. She studied plant diseases there.

In 1991, she completed her PhD at the University of Bath in England. A PhD is the highest university degree you can get. The University of Bath also gave her an honorary degree in 2009. This was to celebrate her amazing work.

Her Work Helping Farmers

Dr. Wambugu is the founder and leader of Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International (AHBFI). She started this organization in 1994. It helps bring new science ideas to farmers in Africa.

Before that, she worked at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). From 1978 to 1991, she was a senior researcher. She helped coordinate research on plant biotechnology. This means she worked on using science to improve plants.

She also spent time as a post-doctoral fellow with Monsanto Company. This was from 1991 to 1994.

Dr. Wambugu has done a lot to improve crops in Kenya. She has worked on maize (corn), pyrethrum, bananas, sweet potatoes, and even trees. She has written over 100 articles about her research.

Working with Global Groups

Florence Wambugu has been part of many important groups around the world. She served on the board of directors for the Private Sector Committee of the CGIAR. This group works on agricultural research for development.

She was also a member of the United Nations Millennium Development goals Hunger task force. This group worked to fight hunger globally. She helped lead the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).

Currently, she is a Council Member of the Japan Science and Technology in Society forum. She is also on the steering committee for the European Action on Global Life Sciences (EAGLES). She is also a Science Board member for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenge in Global Health. These roles show how important her work is on a global scale.

Sweet Potatoes and Science

Florence Wambugu was involved in a project to create a special type of sweet potato. This was a genetically modified (GM) sweet potato. It was designed to resist certain diseases. This project aimed to help farmers grow more sweet potatoes.

Awards and Recognition

Florence Wambugu has received many awards for her important work. These awards celebrate her contributions to science and helping people.

• IITA's (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria) Award (1981)
• KARI's Crop Science Award for Outstanding Scientist of the Year (1989)
• International Potato Center's (CIP) Regional Research Award/Grant (1989)
• Farmers Support Award, Pyrethrum Marketing Board of Kenya (1990)
• Recognized as an excellent PhD student (1991)
• Monsanto Company Outstanding Performance Award (1992, 1993)
• First Place Medal Winner, Global Development Network Awards, KARI (2000)
• World Bank Global Development Network Award (2000) – for successfully bringing a new type of banana to Kenya
• Woman of the Year by Eve Magazine (2000)
• Yara Prize (2008) – for her big help in fighting hunger and poverty in Africa
• Honorary Degree (Doctor of Science), University of Bath (2009)