This award is so deserved for a man who has been in the vanguard of those questioning the value of GMOs for meeting the needs of hungry. Devinder Sharma has also helped lead the charge against the hasty commercialisation of GMOs in India, via a campaign for a five-year freeze and, most recently, through resisting the plan for the immediate commercialisation of GM cotton.

To hear Devinder's contribution to a recent World Service programme on the UNDP report, see details at end.

For just one of Devinder's brilliant articles see: 'Biotechnology : Not the answer to hunger': http://www.connectotel.com/gmfood/hi210700.txt

----

CHAUDHARY CHARAN SINGH AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURAL JOURNALISM 2000
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) press office

Agriculture Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, on Monday July 16 presented the first Chaudhary Charan Singh Award for Excellence in Journalism for the year 2000. The award is named in memory of the well-known farmer leader and a former Indian Prime Minister, Chaudhary Charan Singh. The award is administered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.

The first award is being shared by two stalwarts who have, in their own unique way, served the cause of Indian agriculture and have been at the forefront in protecting the interest of Indian farmers. Mr Devinder Sharma is a distinguished journalist, a former Development Editor of the Indian Express and now a columnist on food and nutritional security, conservation of biodiversity, intellectual property rights, international trade, poverty and economic disparities. He is a prolific writer, has over 4,000 articles to his credit and his writings are published by various national and international newspapers, magazines, journals and the electronic news portals.

Mr G.Venkataramani, the co-winner for 2000, is the Agriculture Correspondent of The Hindu, Chennai. In addition to reporting on the developments in agriculture and allied disciplines, he is also responsible for bringing out an yearly Hindu Survey of Indian Agriculture.

The award carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000.

---

Science View on UNDP
Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/sci_tech/index.shtml
and select Science View
Latest Edition: Tuesday 17th July

The 2001 edition of the United Nations Development Programme's annual Human Development Report was published last week.  It suggests that the technology of genetic modification might have some useful part to play in overcoming world poverty and malnutrition. It's a conclusion that has not been greeted with universal enthusiasm.  In Science View this week presenter Geoff Watts and his guests, Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, author of the report; Professor Tony Trewavas - a leading plant biologist and Koy Thompson, the Policy Director of international development organisation Action Aid, discuss the impact, both positive or negative, the report may have on farming in the developing world.