MEDIA ADVISORY - The Father of India's Green Revolution in Ottawa

OTTAWA, Oct 1 /CNW/ - Professor M S Swaminathan, the father of the Green Revolution that staved off famine in India 40 years ago, will be at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) on October 4^th.  In a conversation with Jean Lebel, Director of Agriculture and Environment at IDRC, Professor Swaminathan will discuss how cell phones and the Internet could launch an "evergreen revolution" - one that can feed the world's population without harming the environment. 

When: Monday, October 4, 2010, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: IDRC, 150 Kent Street (Corner of Albert), 8^th floor, Ottawa, ON

Acclaimed by TIME Magazine as one of the 20 most influential Asians of the 20th century, Professor M S Swaminathan is an outstanding world statesman and visionary in the agricultural and natural resources arena.  His awards and honours include 60 honorary doctorate degrees as well as the first World Food Prize, the Albert Einstein World Science Award, and the Ordre Du Mérite Agricole.  He is currently a UNESCO-Cousteau Professor in Ecotechnology for Asia at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and a Member of India's Parliament.  IDRC has worked closely with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation on assessing the impact of information and communication technologies in sustainable agricultural and rural development. 

Professor Swaminathan's lecture is the tenth in the Speakers of Renown series, which is being held throughout 2010 to mark IDRC's 40^th anniversary. 

The event is open to the media. French and English simultaneous interpretation is available. Spaces are limited and journalists are encouraged to register by calling Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé at 613-696- 2343 or e-mailing at [email protected]. 

Journalists and the public can join in the conversation through Twitter (#IDRC) and Facebook.  For more information and the live webcast, visit www.idrc.ca/events-swaminathan.

About IDRC
To achieve self-reliance, poor communities need answers to questions like: How can we grow more and healthier food? Protect our health? Create jobs? IDRC supports research in developing countries to answer these questions. IDRC also encourages sharing this knowledge with policymakers, other researchers, and communities around the world. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who need it most.

For further information:

Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé / ([phone] / [email protected]