Foreword [Volume 15 No. 5 (2015)]

This issue of AJFAND is dedicated to David Lambert, a good friend who died while attending a yearly event he loved dearly, the WORLD FOOD PRIZE Forum in Des Moines Iowa. I got to know David well in 2013 after reading his World Prize lectures that were well researched, and advocated against hunger and for a poverty free world, through his writings. He was very generous and heaped accolades on others. One could never tell of his accomplishments until he sent me his brief biography which we carried in these pages and are carrying again; more so until I read the tribute written by his good friend Dan Silverstein. We have carried good pictures of David, graciously sent to us by his son Walker, and by Ambassador Ken Quinn, President of the World Food Prize Foundation. These are David's last pictures alive. David was always engaging, talking to people, reaching out in a most friendly way and we wish to thank the family for sharing him with us. Please take time to read his life history as narrated here and get a gist of how much of his career impacted the poor and the hungry, more than any of us could ever imagine. David, we miss you and may your soul rest in Eternal Peace.

The World Food Prize week every October culminates in a Youth Institute, which is virtually the "icing on the cake". Dr Borlaug loved young people, he mentored them directly and he spoke in colleges and high schools. The Youth Institute brings to the World Food Prize young high school students with winning essays on a country they have selected. Some of us are given a chance, paired up with American faculty to serve as judges and mentors. This year, 2015, saw a record number of 198, up by 100 from the previous year, thanks to various sponsors. I served in Group 21 and have papers of some of the students in my group carried in this issue. It is amazing how well these 15-16 year olds write. On talking to them, one also gets a sense of how passionate they are about making a difference in the world. Please learn plenty by taking time to read these essays.

Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) were, for the first time, presented at the World Food Prize. While here this year, we confirmed that the World Food Prize and Sasakawa Africa Association were founded the same year, 1986. As Ambassador Quinn talked of celebrating 30 years next year, we were doing the same for SAA. So the two organizations are joined by Dr Borlaug. We have decided to share the presentations that were made in Des Moines for those who missed it. We also remembered Chris Dowswell who passed away in 2011, and gave an update on the Scholarship Fund for women established in his name. Use the link below to contribute to this FUND.
http://www.christopherdowswellscholarshipfund.org/contribute.html

In this issue, we have 14 excellent papers that have been scrutinized and peer reviewed by the AJFAND team of top scientists. David Lambert whom we honor in this issue, valued science and believed in its power to solve such world problems as hunger, malnutrition and poverty.

With the current focus on climate change, David Lambert would have a lot to say about the ongoing discussions in Paris and how science and technology offer the only plausible options to ensure a food secure world.

Finally, as we prepared to release this issue, my beloved elder sister Diana passed away. Even as I console those who loved David Lambert, including his family, I too got hit by loss of a loved one.

That is life, I guess.

We hear you David, we hear you. May you rest in Eternal Peace. Diana my dear sister, Rest in Eternal Peace.

Ruth Oniang’o
Editor-in-Chief, AJFAND