Dutch seed man wins 'Nobel Prize of food'

The World Food Prize Foundation on Monday named Simon N. Groot of the Netherlands as the 2019 World Food Prize Laureate, honoring his transformative role in empowering millions of small farmers in more than 60 countries to earn greater incomes through increased vegetable production.

The $250,000 prize recognizes the "unparalleled achievement" of the founder and leader of East-West Seed Co in benefiting hundreds of millions of consumers with greater access to nutritious vegetables for healthy diets, the foundation said in a statement.

"Like Dr Norman Borlaug before him, Simon N. Groot has dedicated his life to improving the livelihoods of millions around the world," Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation, said at a ceremony in Washington on Monday.