The Hon John Kerin AM appointed ICRISAT International Ambassador of Goodwill

August 24, 2014

The Hon John Kerin AM, Crawford Fund Chair, has joined Bill Gates and MS Swaminathan, the father of the Green Revolution in India, as an international Ambassador of Goodwill for ICRISAT – the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.

The recognition was conferred to him by the ICRISAT Director General Dr William Dar at the annual Crawford Fund Parliamentary Conference on food security, held in Canberra on 26-28 August.

As an ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill, Mr Kerin has agreed to champion the need for science-based solutions for farming in the fight against poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation.

“I’m very pleased to take on the role as an ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill, to help support their important work. I well-remember my visit to ICRISAT in India some years back. Not only does their research improve the lives of the poor, it is also helping farmers in Australia,” said Mr Kerin.

“We cannot be any prouder of all our Ambassadors of Goodwill, who include Mr Bill Gates and Prof MS Swaminathan,” said Dr Dar.

“The drylands are also the producers of the new Smart Foods – foods that are not only good for you but also good for the environment because of their low usage of water and other inputs, as well as being lifesavers for the rural poor who have few other options. Crops like millets are less known but are hailed to be the next quinoa and the new Smart Food,” Dr Dar continued.

“Through our Ambassadors, we can further spread the word on crops like millets and legumes that have triple benefits of being highly nutritious, good for the planet, and play an important role in overcoming poverty and malnutrition in poor areas,” he added.

Related material

Media coverage

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
ICRISAT Press Release, 26 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
The Economic Times

75 per cent of world’s extremely poor people live in rural areas: ICRISAT
Shafaqna News Reader, Middle East, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Business Standard, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
New Indian Express, 27 August 2014

John Kerin is ICRISAT Goodwill Ambassador
The Hindu, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Hindustan Times, 27 August 2014

75 per cent of world’s extremely poor people live in rural areas: ICRISAT
News Cloud UK, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
News Today, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
The Non-Profit Press, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Actu, 27 August 2014

World’s 75 Percent Poorest Reside In Rural Areas: Report
Silicon India, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
India.com, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
The Siasat Urdu Daily, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Kalvi Malar, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
World News, 27 August 2014

75 per cent of world’s extremely poor people live in rural areas: ICRISAT
Bulletin247, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Rediff News, 27 August 2014

75 per cent of world’s extremely poor people live in rural areas: ICRISAT
London: The News, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill,
Fin Thoughts, 27 August 2014

John Kerin ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
When Guru, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Aid Resources, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
News Now, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Cut Mirchi, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Feeds, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
News Fiber, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Inooz, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Traders Cockpit, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
News.Nom, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
News Waver, 27 August 2014

75 per cent of world’s extremely poor people live in rural areas: ICRISAT
Veooz, 27 August 2014

75 per cent of world’s extremely poor people live in rural areas: ICRISAT
Trove, 27 August 2014

Kerin is ICRISAT goodwill envoy
Financial Chronicle, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
News Dippides, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Silo Breaker, 27 August 2014

75 per cent of world’s extremely poor people live in rural areas: ICRISAT
NReader, 27 August 2014

75 per cent of world’s extremely poor people live in rural areas: ICRISAT
Zipped News, 27 August 2014

John Kerin named ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill
Cheetah Post, 27 August 2014

75 per cent of world’s extremely poor people live in rural areas: ICRISAT
Scoop.it!, 27 August 2014

75 per cent of world’s extremely poor people live in rural areas: ICRISAT
Daily India News, 27 August 2014