| WPC Award Winners, 2006 Potato Industry Recognizes Innovators |
2006 World Potato Congress Award Winners The Awards recognize outstanding personal contribution and leadership in respect to the development and progress of the global potato industry. The following recipients received their Awards at the 6th World Potato Congress which was held in Boise, Idaho, USA from the 20th to the 26th of August, 2006. The presentations took place during the Official Congress Closing Dinner. Written nominations were submitted for consideration by the Awards Committee which was Chaired by Mr. John Rich, from Tasmania, Australia. Other members of the Awards Committee were Ms. Kimberly Warren, Managing Editor of Spudland Magazine, from Sparta, Michigan, USA, and Mr Victor Phaff, Secretary of the North Western European Potato Growers Assn. from Dronten,The Netherlands. The 2006 winners are; Mr Jim Godfrey, the United Kingdom; Mr David Montgomery, Australia; Dr Songyu QU,China; and Mr Ronald D Offutt, the USA. Here is a short version of the citations for each of the award recipients. Jim Godfrey – United Kingdom Jim Godfrey is an outstanding and influential potato industry personality David Montgomery - Australia David Montgomery, from Australia, has devoted more than 40 years to the potato Dr Dongyu QU - China Dr Dongyu QU graduated from the Hunan Agricultural University in 1983 and Ronald D Offutt – USA Ronald D Offutt has made an enormous contribution to the potato industry in the The Chairman of the Awards Committee, John Rich, has advised that it was not an easy task for the Committee to select the four winners from the number of nominations received. "The dedication and enthusiasm of potato industry participants, spanning a great many years, is quite outstanding," said Mr Rich. Sincere congratulations to all 2006 recipients! FORMER WORLD POTATO CONGRESS AWARD RECIPIENTS 1993 - Canada David Loggie, Prince Edward Island, Canada 1994 - England Harrison McCain, New Brunswick, Canada 1997 - South Africa John Richard (JR) Simplot, Idaho, USA 2000 - The Netherlands Jan Frans Binst- Belgium 2004 - China Ray Owen, England |
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from the United Kingdom. He was elected to the Potato Marketing Board in 1988 and Chaired the Research and Development Committee. He became Chairman of the Potato Marketing Board in 1992 and led the changes for the organisation to evolve into the British Potato Council. He is the Chairman of the International Potato Centre (CIP). He was a Board member and Chairman of the Scottish Crop Research Institute. This year Mr Godfrey was appointed as Chair of the Alliance of the 15 Future Harvest Centers.
industry. He has been a champion for the improvement and promotion of the industry. His involvement covers a long and successful history of farm management and of using his marketing skills, to promote the potato industry for his local area and within Australia. He was a foundation Director of the Horticultural Research and Development Corporation. In addition to operating his own farm, he has held the position of Executive Director of the Crookwell Potato Association since 1988.
commenced working with potatoes with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). He is presently the Vice President of CAAS, a position he has held since 2001. Under the leadership of Dr QU, in his position as Chairman of the Chinese Potato Association since 1988, he has brought together all potato organisations in China, now working co-operatively to further progress the industry. He has many achievements and has a distinguished career as a leader and researcher for the potato industry in China
United States of America. Commencing in 1964, his working life has been devoted to the business of potato production and potato industry development. He is a successful grower and processor, with numerous related business interests. He is credited to be the largest producer of potatoes in the USA. His enthusiasm for the industry, from 1970, enabled him to convert non traditional farm land into valuable potato production land. Ronald Offutt has made a significant contribution to the development of the potato industry in the United States. He is a known visionary, who supports research programs, is receptive to and encourages new and innovative ideas and is always seeking to improve productivity and quality in the potato business.