Rice cultivation expert Tatsushi Tsuboi has spent a lifetime promoting the grain's production in Africa, a continent with chronic food shortages.
His efforts to combat starvation and boost economic development in Africa led to his winning this year's Niigata International Food Award, a biennial prize honoring people or groups for their contributions to solving food problems.
Since graduating from university, Tsuboi, 65, has spent over three decades in international cooperation activities and teaching rice cultivation to people in Asia and Africa.