Melaku Worede
(1936-)

Ethiopian Geneticist, Conservationist
1989 Right Livelihood Award Winner

birthdate: ?
birthplace: Ethiopia

Bio | Quotes | Links | ColorMe Pix

Melaku Worede and Seeds for Survival, an Ethiopian organization he helped found, received the 1989 Right Livelihood Award "...for preserving Ethiopia's genetic wealth for the benefit of all humanity." Modern farming methods have greatly threatened the biodiversity of plant life. Melaku Worede worked to preserve the genetic diversity of plant life in Ethiopia by creating a 'Strategic Seed Reserves' of traditional varieties of seeds. It became one of the world's best genetic conservation systems. Many other projects to support biodiversity conservation in Africa and Asia have been modeled after this groundbreaking work.