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Winner of first IFAJ-FAO journalism prize announced

15 July 2016, Bonn - Laura Rance of Canada is the winner of the first IFAJ-FAO Award for Excellence in Global Food Security Reporting. The announcement was made at the 2016 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) congress in Bonn, Germany.

Rance's article, "Africa's hunger games" was published in the Winnipeg (Canada) Free Press on April 11, 2015. The article addresses the technical, economic and social issues related to this year's contest theme, soil degradation, in a concise and appealing manner.

The IFAJ-FAO Award for Excellence in Global Food Security Reporting is sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The winner receives an all-expenses paid trip to an IFAJ congress, as well as an FAO project related to the UN's International Years.

Judges were Erwin Northoff, FAO chief of media relations; Jane Rickson, Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation, Cranfield Soil and Agrifood Institute, Great Britain; and Owen Roberts, Vice-President of IFAJ.

"Laura Rance's article is a perfect example of presenting the complex scientific and social problems of soil management in poor countries to a broader audience," says Northoff.

Rickson called the article "written as an eye witness account at first, which makes the article easy to read and compelling."

Roberts said the level of competition for this award was very high, noting 25 entries were received for the inaugural year of this award (each IFAJ member country was allowed to submit two entries).

"IFAJ members have embraced this award," he says. "Even in its inaugural year, it has become a coveted part of the federation's suite of awards for writing and broadcasting excellence."

View Rance's winning entry here.

For further information about the IFAJ-FAO Award for Excellence in Global Food Security Reporting, contact the global office at [email protected] or visit www.ifaj.org.