Monty Jones

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Dr. Monty Jones (born February 5, 1951 in Freetown) is a Sierra Leonean plant breeder and executive director of FARA (Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa). The main developer of NERICA (New Rices for Africa), a set of high-productivity rices adapted to West Africa's growing conditions, Jones was a co-recipient of the 2004 World Food Prize.

[edit] Biography

Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Jones was raised in a middle-class 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.

[edit] Awards and recognition

In 2004, Jones was named a co-recipient (with Prof. Yuan Longping of China) of the World Food Prize.

In 2007, Jones was listed among Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in The World.

[edit] References

• Monty Jones - The Time 100
• Rice-breeder joins world leaders BBC May 4 2007
• Dr. Monty Jones - Click Afrique magazine
• Proposal Summary Page - Agropolis International (pp.29-33)

Honorary titles
Preceded by Catherine Bertini	World Food Prize 2004	Succeeded by Modadugu Vijay Gupta