Ecuadorian wins World Food Prize, dubbed 'Nobel of Agriculture'

Josselyn Vega Rojas, a 29-year-old from the Kichwa community of San Isidro in Cotopaxi, Ecuador, has earned the prestigious World Food Prize. This award, often likened to the 'Nobel Prize of Agriculture,' recognizes her significant contributions to food production and sustainability.

Vega, president of the Association of Ecological Producers of Cotopaxi and a key figure in the 'From the Plant to the Pot' fair, expressed her joy and surprise upon receiving the news. While initially not fully grasping the award's magnitude, she soon realized its importance through media attention and congratulatory calls. "The name is mine, but this is truly the effort of thousands of people," she stated, underscoring the collaborative nature of her achievements.

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The name is mine, but this is truly the effort of thousands of people.

She prefers to highlight the collective work of her community and the Indigenous and Peasant Movement of Cotopaxi (MIIC) rather than focus on her individual accomplishments. "I am the face," she often says, crediting the organization and community for sustaining her work. This sentiment is echoed by Rosa Rodríguez, coordinator of the Heifer Foundation, which has supported San Isidro's efforts in securing water, land, and promoting agroecology and leadership.

The World Food Prize was established in 1986 by Norman E. Borlaug, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate known as the "Father of the Green Revolution." Borlaug created the prize to honor advancements in food production and the prevention of hunger, as he believed agriculture deserved its own Nobel-level recognition. Vega is set to receive this esteemed award in Iowa, USA, from October 20-22, 2026.

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I am the face