Võ Tòng Xuân (6 September 1940 – 19 August 2024) was a Vietnamese agricultural expert who was provost of Tân Tạo University (TTU), rector of An Giang University (AGU) and vice rector of Can Tho University.[citation needed] He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation from 2002 until 2010.[1][failed verification]
He is known throughout southern Vietnam as Dr. Rice because of a popular television show he presented that taught farmers better techniques for growing and cultivating rice. He was also instrumental in the eradication of the brown planthopper bug which throughout the 1970s was destroying paddy rice. Part of the problem in eradicating the bug infestation was limitations in improving farming caused by the type of collectivization imposed on the farmers of southern Vietnam.[2] He also helped to bring about reforms in the early 1980s that can be seen as catalysts to the Doi Moi reforms of 1986.[citation needed]
His activities were a key driver of Vietnam becoming one of the world's largest rice exporters.[2]
Võ died on 19 August 2024, at the age of 83.[3]
Notable positions within international organizations
edit- Member, Board of Trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation (2002–2010)
- Member, Board of Governors, Asian Institute of Management in Manila (1997–2024)[4]
- Member, Board of Trustees of the International Potato Center at Lima, Peru (1996–1999; 2016–2024).
- Research fellow and trustee of the International Rice Research Institute.[5]
- Member, Board of Directors of the International Fertilizer Development Center (2007–2017)
Notable international awards
edit- Recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding in 1993.[6]
- Canada's Certificate of recognition for his "Dedication and contribution to the world of sciences"
- France's "Chevalier de l'Ordre du Merite Agricole Medal"
- Japan's Nikkei Asia Prize for Regional Growth[7]
- Philippines's D.L. Umali Award
- Australia's 2005 ASTD Derek Tribe Award. He was a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and Technology.[8]
- VinFuture Prize 2023[9]
References
edit- ^ "Board of Trustees". The Rockefeller Foundation. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b Conway, Eileen (15 March 1997). "In Person: Vo-Tong Xuan". IDRC Reports. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "Professor Vo Tong Xuan, renowned agricultural expert, passes away". Vietnam Net. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "Asian Institute of Management". www.aim.edu. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008.
- ^ IRRI
- ^ 1993 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service – Vo-Tong Xuan
- ^ "Nikkei Net Interactive - Nikkei Asia Prizes". Archived from the original on 6 February 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
- ^ "ATSE Crawford Fund - Derek Tribe Award". www.crawfordfund.org. Archived from the original on 21 August 2006.
- ^ The 2023 VinFuture Prize honors four scientific works under the theme of “Boundless Unity” The 2023 VinFuture Special Prize for Innovators from Developing Countries has honored Indian American Prof. Gurdev Singh Khush and Vietnamese Prof. Vo Tong Xuan for their significant contributions to the invention and advancement of disease-resistant rice varieties, ensuring global food security