IRRI congratulates Dr. Ruaraidh Sackville Hamilton, head of the International Rice Genebank, for receiving the Crop Trust Legacy Award. Dr. Hamilton is one of the seven award recipients recognized as “global gatekeepers” for their efforts and outstanding contribution in the field of plant genetic resources conservation. In a video about the Legacy Awardees, Marie Haga, Executive Director of Crop Trust, said “[the awardees have] diligently prepared seeds for the world for years. They have done a tremendous job for human kind by safeguarding the foundation of our food”.
“This Legacy Award is a great honor not only for me, but for all the staff working in the genebank, and the whole International Rice Research Institute. It signifies a global recognition of the Institute’s work and commitment to conserve rice genetic diversity through the International Rice Genebank, which has been a significant force in shaping our future impact,” said Dr. Hamilton.
Dr. Hamilton, an evolutionary biologist and a principal scientist at IRRI, is the head of the Genetic Resources Center team at IRRI, providing leadership to the genetic conservation role of the Institute. He is involved in safeguarding rice genetic resources available in IRRI, facilitating their effective and responsible use in compliance with international obligations, and developing new approaches to improve their conservation and use globally and institutionally. He also represents IRRI and the CGIAR in relevant international fora such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Crop Trust Legacy Awards were also presented to the former Executive Director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust and to other genebank managers of the CGIAR who are in charge of the crucial task of conserving and distributing thousands of seeds across the world. The recognition was part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, held on 21 February 2018 at Svalbard, Norway.
To know more about Dr. Hamilton and his work on IRRI’s Genetic Resources Center, click here.
For more information about the Crop Trust Legacy Awards, visit http://www.croptrust.org/.
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