Gebisa Ejeta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gebisa Ejeta
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
ISPC Science Forum 2016, by Desalegne Tadesse
|
|
| Born | 1950 (age 74–75) Wollonkomi, Ethiopia
|
| Alma mater | Purdue University |
| Awards | World Food Prize (2009) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Plant breeding, Genetics |
Gebisa Ejeta (born in 1950) is an amazing Ethiopian American scientist. He is a plant breeder and geneticist, which means he studies how to improve plants. He works as a Professor at Purdue University. In 2009, he won the important World Food Prize. He earned this award for his big help in growing a plant called sorghum. His work has made a huge difference in feeding people, especially in Africa.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Gebisa Ejeta was born in 1950 in a small village called Wollonkomi, in Ethiopia. His parents were from the Oromo people. His mother really wanted him to get a good education. Because of her encouragement, he would walk 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) every Sunday evening. He did this just to get to the nearest elementary school. He would stay there for the whole week to study.
At first, young Gebisa thought about becoming an engineer. But his mother believed he could help more people by working in agriculture. This meant studying farming and plants. So, he decided to follow her advice. He went to an agricultural high school in Ethiopia. He also studied at what is now Haramaya University. With help from the U.S. Agency for International Development, he later earned his doctorate degree from Purdue University in the United States.
Helping Farmers with Sorghum
Dr. Ejeta's work has truly changed lives. In the early 1980s, he worked in Sudan. There, he created a special kind of sorghum plant. This new plant was the first "hybrid variety" in Africa. A hybrid plant is like a mix of two different plants. It was also "drought tolerant," meaning it could grow even when there wasn't much rain. This was a huge step for farmers in dry areas.
Later, Dr. Ejeta worked with a friend at Purdue University. They found out how a dangerous weed called striga harms sorghum plants. Striga is a "parasitic weed." This means it steals food and water from other plants, like a parasite. Once they understood this, Dr. Ejeta was able to create new sorghum plants. These plants could fight off the striga weed. They were also still able to grow well during droughts. His discoveries helped farmers grow more food, even in tough conditions.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Ejeta has received many important awards for his work. In 2009, he won the World Food Prize. This award is like the Nobel Prize for food and agriculture. It recognized his amazing contributions to feeding the world.
In 2011, President Barack Obama chose Dr. Ejeta to be part of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development. This board helps advise the U.S. government on how to improve food and farming around the world.
Most recently, in 2023, Dr. Ejeta was given the National Medal of Science. This is one of the highest honors a scientist can receive in the United States. President Joe Biden presented him with this medal. It was given for his "outstanding contributions to the science of plant genetics." This means he is one of the best at understanding and improving plant genes.
Dr. Gebisa Ejeta's life shows how one person's dedication can make a big difference. His work has helped millions of people have more food.
Images for kids
-
ISPC Science Forum 2016, by Desalegne Tadesse
