Monty Jones
Encyclopedia
Dr. Monty Jones is a Sierra Leone creole
plant breeder and executive director of Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). The main developer of NERICA (New Rices for Africa), a set of high-productivity rice
s adapted to West Africa
's growing conditions, Jones was a co-recipient of the 2004 World Food Prize
.
Catholic family. He obtained a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Njala University College, University of Sierra Leone
in 1974, followed by an M.Sc. in Plant Genetic Resources (1979) and a Ph.D.
in Plant Biology (1983) from the University of Birmingham
, UK
.
Dr. Jones began working at WARDA (West Africa Rice Development Agency) in 1975, moving to their main research center in Cote d'Ivoire
in 1991. There, he led the team that successfully crossed the Asian and African rice
species (Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima), producing the high-yield NERICA variety.
In 2002, Jones was appointed the executive secretary of FARA (Forum for Agricultural Research), where he oversees efforts to improve regional agricultural research in Africa, with the goals of improving food security
, reducing poverty
and increasing economic growth
.
In 2009, Dr. Jones joined the Executive Committee of the Belgium based NGO EMRC, an international platform for business discussions between the African private sector and the North.
of China
) of the World Food Prize
.
In 2007, Jones was listed among Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in The World.
Sierra Leone Creole people
The Sierra Leone Creoles, or Krios, are an ethnic group in Sierra Leone, descendants of West Indian slaves from the Caribbean, primarily from Jamaica; freed African American slaves from the Thirteen Colonies resettled from Nova Scotia; and Liberated Africans from various parts of Africa...
plant breeder and executive director of Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). The main developer of NERICA (New Rices for Africa), a set of high-productivity rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
s adapted to West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
's growing conditions, Jones was a co-recipient of the 2004 World Food Prize
World Food Prize
The World Food Prize is an international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.-The Prize:...
.
Biography
Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Jones was raised in a middle-class CreoleSierra Leone Creole people
The Sierra Leone Creoles, or Krios, are an ethnic group in Sierra Leone, descendants of West Indian slaves from the Caribbean, primarily from Jamaica; freed African American slaves from the Thirteen Colonies resettled from Nova Scotia; and Liberated Africans from various parts of Africa...
Catholic family. He obtained a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Njala University College, University of Sierra Leone
University of Sierra Leone
The University of Sierra Leone is the name of the former unitary public university system in Sierra Leone, which, as of May 2005, was reconstitued into the individual colleges of Fourah Bay College and Njala University. It is now affiliated to many colleges in Sierra Leone.-See also:* Fourah Bay...
in 1974, followed by an M.Sc. in Plant Genetic Resources (1979) and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Plant Biology (1983) from the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Dr. Jones began working at WARDA (West Africa Rice Development Agency) in 1975, moving to their main research center in Cote d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
in 1991. There, he led the team that successfully crossed the Asian and African rice
African rice
Oryza glaberrima, commonly known as African rice, is a domesticated rice species. African rice is believed to have been domesticated 2,000-3,000 years ago in the inland delta of the Upper Niger river, in what is now Mali...
species (Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima), producing the high-yield NERICA variety.
In 2002, Jones was appointed the executive secretary of FARA (Forum for Agricultural Research), where he oversees efforts to improve regional agricultural research in Africa, with the goals of improving food security
Food security
Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it. A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. According to the World Resources Institute, global per capita food production has been increasing substantially for the past...
, reducing poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and increasing economic growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
.
In 2009, Dr. Jones joined the Executive Committee of the Belgium based NGO EMRC, an international platform for business discussions between the African private sector and the North.
Awards and recognition
In 2004, Jones was named a co-recipient (with Prof. Yuan LongpingYuan Longping
Yuan Longping is a Chinese agricultural scientist and educator, known for developing the first hybrid rice varieties in the 1970s. His "hybrid rice" has since been grown in dozens of countries in Africa, America, and Asia—providing a robust food source in high famine risk areas. He is called "The...
of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
) of the World Food Prize
World Food Prize
The World Food Prize is an international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.-The Prize:...
.
In 2007, Jones was listed among Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in The World.