Renowned Ethiopian-American plant geneticist and executive director of Purdue University’s Center for Global Food Security Professor Gebisa Ejeta recently concluded a productive visit to Ethiopia. His visit focused on strengthening agricultural research, promoting food security, and fostering collaboration between Ethiopian and U.S. institutions.
Professor Gebisa, a 2009 World Food Prize Laureate and winner of the 2023 U.S. National Medal of Science, is a global leader in the field of plant genetics. Born in 1950, Gebisa grew up in rural Ethiopia and was educated at Jimma Agricultural and Technical School and Alemaya College of Agriculture, both of which were established under the U.S. government’s Point Four program. In 1974, Gebisa undertook his graduate studies at Purdue University in Indiana, USA.
Throughout his visit, Professor Gebisa emphasized the importance of agricultural research and innovation in addressing global food security challenges. Gebisa met with leading U.S. and Ethiopian government officials including U.S. Ambassador Massinga and Minister of Agriculture Dr. Girma Amente. Professor Gebisa also spoke with leaders and researchers at Ethiopia’s premier agricultural research institutes including the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research.
