Yambuk plant breeder Anthony Leddin will deliver the presentation of his life in Berlin on Monday at The Aspirin Social Innovation Awards, with the chance to win about $30,000.
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Mr Leddin will present his Plant Breeders Without Borders – an initiative in which expert volunteers train farmers and students to develop their own crops using under-used indigenous species – to a jury of experts.
The worldwide awards recognise “social impact pioneers” with new solutions to improve health care and end global hunger.
Mr Leddin’s idea was one of 12 finalists from 27 nominee projects and he’s excited to share his passion for plant breeding.
“It’s really an honour to even make it to the final,” he said.
“It’s great to be able to publicise what plant breeders are.”
Four projects will be selected from the group of finalists with winners to receive about $30,000 to advance their ideas.
Mr Leddin will have six minutes to present his idea and three minutes for questions.
Aside from the presentation, Mr Leddin will take the opportunity to connect with Plant Breeders Without Borders overseas partners.
He will stop in England and Malaysia after the awards.
Mr Leddin developed the idea for Plant Breeders Without Borders about 15 years ago when he was studying his masters at university.
In Ethiopia in 2015, he worked on a project teaching farmers how to create plants that would be better feed for dairy farm animals.
Mr Leddin has also volunteered in India, Vietnam and Indonesia.
