From: Nigel Allen <nigel.allen@canrem.com>
Subject: World Food Prize Laureates Recognized
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Summary: Press release from World Food Prize Foundation
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: Echo Beach
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 19:08:55 GMT

 World Food Prize Laureates Recognized for Eco-Friendly War on Pests
 To: National Desk, Science Writer
 Contact: Herman Kilpper of the World Food Prize Foundation,
          515-245-2411,
          or Dan Frahm of CMF&Z Public Relations, 515-246-3596

   DES MOINES, Iowa, July 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- This year's
$200,000 World Food Prize recognizes a team of insect researchers
from the United States who pioneered the development of
ecologically acceptable biological control.
   Entomologists Dr. Edward F. Knipling, of Arlington, Va., and Dr.
Raymond C. Bushland, of Kerrville, Texas, were named laureates in
recognition of their development of a biological technique that
eradicates specific parasites which threaten the world food supply.
   Knipling, 81, and Bushland, 80, both retired from the United
States Department of Agriculture in the mid-70s.  Knipling and
Bushland's technique uses no chemicals, has no effect on non-target
species, leaves no residue and is environmentally-friendly.  It has
proven broad applications in controlling many kinds of insects that
attack animals, crops and humans.
   According to John Ruan, chairman of The World Food Prize
Foundation, this year's laureates' contributions toward alleviating
global hunger go beyond America's borders.
   "Before Knipling and Bushland's development of the Sterile
Insect Technique (SIT), which was first used to eliminate
screwworms -- the cost of living with the screwworm infestation in
the United States was estimated at $100 million annually.  Efforts
to rid America of screwworms began in the early 1900s and eventual
eradication of screwworms from the southern United States and
Mexico was not completed until 1966," said Ruan.
   Ruan went on to say, "Due to the biological technique developed
by Knipling and Bushland, successful SIT campaigns have been
achieved most recently in Libya and neighboring countries.  If our
laureates' technique had not eliminated the spread of screwworms
during 1991 in these countries, there would have been devastating
effects on the great wildlife and livestock resources of Africa."
   Environmentally-friendly SIT takes mass quantities of
laboratory-reared, sterilized male insects and releases them in
infested areas where they mate with native females.  This break in
the insects' life cycle drastically reduces the number of
offspring, thus eliminating unwanted or harmful parasites.  Pests
that threaten livestock, fruit, vegetable and fibre crops have been
suppressed using SIT.
   Dr. Knipling and Bushland began their work on SIT in the late
1930s.  Their work was delayed by World War II.  In the 1940s, SIT
was finalized and first implemented to eradicate screwworms from
southern Florida.  Since that initial test, screwworms have been
eliminated from the Southwestern United States, the Republic of
Mexico, the Republic of Guatemala, Libya, Africa, and Belize.
Eradication programs for the screwworm are presently underway in
Honduras and El Salvador.
   Dr. Norman Borlaug, founder of The World Food Prize and 1970
Nobel Peace Prize recipient, believes the dedicated work of this
year's laureates' development of SIT has had, and continues to
have, a profound impact on "preserving a nutritious, stable food
supply for the world."
   Founded in 1986, The World Food Prize is the foremost
international award recognizing outstanding individual achievement
in improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the
world.  The World Food Prize is sponsored by The World Food Prize
Foundation, established by John Ruan, and is located in Des Moines,
Iowa.  The 1992 laureates will receive their $200,000 cash award
and Saul Bass sculpture at a special ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa,
during October 1992.
 -30-
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario/Detroit, MI
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive