Gurdev Khush facts for kids

Gurdev Singh Khush (born August 22, 1935) is a famous scientist who helped feed millions of people around the world. He is an Agronomist, which means he studies how to grow crops better, and a Geneticist, meaning he studies the genes of plants to make them stronger and more productive.

Along with his mentor, Henry Beachell, Dr. Khush received the 1996 World Food Prize. This award recognized his amazing work in growing and improving the world's supply of rice. His efforts were especially important during a time when the global population was growing very fast.

Education and Early Life

Gurdev Khush was born in India. He loved learning about plants and farming from a young age. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), from Punjab Agricultural University in 1955.

He then moved to the United States to continue his studies. In 1960, he completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). This advanced degree helped him become an expert in plant science.

A Career Helping the World

After finishing his studies, Dr. Khush worked at the University of California for seven years. During this time, he studied the genes of tomatoes. Understanding plant genes helps scientists make plants healthier and more resistant to diseases.

Joining the International Rice Research Institute

In 1967, Dr. Khush joined the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines. IRRI is a special place where scientists work to improve rice, which is a main food source for many people. He started there as a Plant Breeder. A plant breeder works to create new and better types of plants.

In 1972, he became the head of the Plant Breeding Department at IRRI. For over twenty years, he led and took part in important research. His goal was always to find new and improved kinds of rice. These new rice types would help feed the growing population and support farmers in developing countries.

Developing New Rice Varieties

During his time at IRRI, Dr. Khush played a key role in creating more than 300 new types of rice. One very famous type was called Semi-dwarf IR36. These new rice varieties were much better than older ones. They could grow more rice in the same amount of land.

Thanks to the work of scientists like Dr. Khush, the amount of rice grown worldwide increased a lot. In 1966, the world produced about 257 million tons of rice. By 2006, this number had jumped to 626 million tons! This huge increase helped prevent hunger for millions of people.

After IRRI

Dr. Khush retired from IRRI in February 2002. He was the Principal Plant Breeder and head of the Plant Breeding Genetics and Biochemistry Division. After retiring, he returned to UC Davis as a special professor. He also helped judge the Infosys Prize for Life Sciences in 2010, recognizing other great scientists.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Khush has received many important awards for his contributions to science and food security. These awards show how much his work has helped the world.

• Borlaug Award (1977)
• Japan Prize (1987)
• World Food Prize (1996)
• Padma Shri (2000)
• Wolf Prize in Agriculture (2000)
• VinFuture Prize (2023)

He was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1995. This is a very high honor for scientists. In 1991, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences in India also recognized him as a foreign fellow.