Hans Riensche, ag bus sophomore, was presented the 2018 John Chrystal Award by the World Food Prize Foundation at the World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony in Des Moines Oct. 18. Riensche was honored for his research on locating tiller development genes in rice as a 2017 Borlaug-Ruan International Intern at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in China.
“Never had I set out to win the award, I had only desired to make the most out of the amazing opportunity laid before me. To this day I still feel incredibly humbled to have been selected and feel excited that this is only the beginning of a life dedicated to food security," Riensche said.
The John Chrystal Award was established in 2000 in the spirit of John Chrystal's commitment to enriching Iowa's relationship with the world and his belief that everyone is entitled to a sense of dignity and adequate food. The award is presented annually to the Borlaug-Ruan intern who most strongly reflects Chrystal’s commitment.
“The World Food Prize is a truly unique and transformative organization. My time in China as a Borlaug-Ruan intern pushed me to adapt to new cultures, introduced me to an incredible international friend group and inspired me to pursue a life in food security. I have not yet had any other experience which can match the power of setting aside the life I had become comfortable living, moving to the opposite side of the planet and exploring ways that I could make a serious contribution to the search for solutions to the world’s most pressing issues," Riensche said.