Crops and Leaders in Focus

As we marked our 20^th anniversary, the Crop Trust embarked on a special campaign to tell the stories of Seed Heroes. These remarkable individuals from the past and present have dedicated their lives to conserving crop diversity and promoting food security. 

Throughout 2024, we published monthly profiles of different Seed Heroes whose careers shaped the landscape of crop diversity conservation and use. The stories highlighted the outstanding work of scientists, advocates and leaders from the fields of genebank management and plant breeding. Sharing these stories showcased the history of conserving crop diversity and how we can use it to secure the future of food. We also hoped to inspire the next generation of scientists to carry on this work. 

The 12-part series paid tribute to many eminent figures, living and deceased. We profiled heroes such as: Nikolai Vavilov, the “father of genebanks”; Cary Fowler and Geoffrey Hawtin, winners of the 2024 World Food Prize; and Melinda Smale, a Michigan State University professor who explores the economic value of crop diversity conservation.

Readers also learned how Moroccan scientist Ahmed Amri helped rescue ICARDA’s genebank during Syria’s civil war. They found out how Carlos Ochoa escaped from thieves who tried to kill him by rolling boulders down a mountainside in Peru during his collection expedition, and how Mexican scientist Evangelina Villegas co-developed a new variety of protein-building maize that improved the diets of millions of malnourished people around the world.

The campaign enjoyed the active input of living Seed Heroes, who contributed time and effort to ensure the accuracy of their story and timeline. We are grateful to each of them for their help and interest in the series.

The Seed Heroes pantheon includes five women who reached the pinnacle of a traditionally male-dominated profession, often overcoming significant challenges in their careers. The Crop Trust salutes their dedication to securing our agricultural legacy and ensuring global food security.