The Hon John Kerin AM appointed ICRISAT International Ambassador of Goodwill

August 24, 2014

The Hon John Kerin AM, Crawford Fund Chair, has joined Bill Gates and MS Swaminathan, the father of the Green Revolution in India, as an international Ambassador of Goodwill for ICRISAT – the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.

The recognition was conferred to him by the ICRISAT Director General Dr William Dar at the annual Crawford Fund Parliamentary Conference on food security, held in Canberra on 26-28 August.

As an ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill, Mr Kerin has agreed to champion the need for science-based solutions for farming in the fight against poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation.

“I’m very pleased to take on the role as an ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill, to help support their important work. I well-remember my visit to ICRISAT in India some years back. Not only does their research improve the lives of the poor, it is also helping farmers in Australia,” said Mr Kerin.

“We cannot be any prouder of all our Ambassadors of Goodwill, who include Mr Bill Gates and Prof MS Swaminathan,” said Dr Dar.

“The drylands are also the producers of the new Smart Foods – foods that are not only good for you but also good for the environment because of their low usage of water and other inputs, as well as being lifesavers for the rural poor who have few other options. Crops like millets are less known but are hailed to be the next quinoa and the new Smart Food,” Dr Dar continued.

“Through our Ambassadors, we can further spread the word on crops like millets and legumes that have triple benefits of being highly nutritious, good for the planet, and play an important role in overcoming poverty and malnutrition in poor areas,” he added.

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