Henry Beachell
Encyclopedia
Dr. Henry M. Beachell was an American
plant breeder. His research led to the development of hybrid rice
cultivars that saved millions of people around the world from starvation
.
Born in Waverly, Nebraska
, Beachell and his family moved to a corn
and wheat
farm
in western Nebraska. In 1930 he earned an agronomy
degree from the University of Nebraska. After graduate study in Kansas
, Beachell worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Texas
. There, he created nine rice
varieties, which eventually accounted for more than 90 percent of the U.S. long-grain rice production.
Beachell has been called the most important person in rice improvement in the world. As farmer
s planted higher yielding rice, nutrition improved in many Asian
countries, and farmers increased their incomes. Beachell has received many international awards, including the 1996 World Food Prize
. As a centenarian
, Beachell consulted with Rice-Tec, the only commercial hybrid rice-breeding program in the U.S, up until his death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
plant breeder. His research led to the development of hybrid rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
cultivars that saved millions of people around the world from starvation
Starvation
Starvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy, nutrient and vitamin intake. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage and eventually, death...
.
Born in Waverly, Nebraska
Waverly, Nebraska
Waverly is a city in Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Lincoln, Nebraska Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,448 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Waverly is located at ....
, Beachell and his family moved to a corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
in western Nebraska. In 1930 he earned an agronomy
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
degree from the University of Nebraska. After graduate study in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, Beachell worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. There, he created nine rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
varieties, which eventually accounted for more than 90 percent of the U.S. long-grain rice production.
Beachell has been called the most important person in rice improvement in the world. As farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s planted higher yielding rice, nutrition improved in many Asian
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
countries, and farmers increased their incomes. Beachell has received many international awards, including the 1996 World Food Prize
World Food Prize
The World Food Prize is an international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.-The Prize:...
. As a centenarian
Centenarian
A centenarian is a person who is or lives beyond the age of 100 years. Because current average life expectancies across the world are less than 100, the term is invariably associated with longevity. Much rarer, a supercentenarian is a person who has lived to the age of 110 or more, something only...
, Beachell consulted with Rice-Tec, the only commercial hybrid rice-breeding program in the U.S, up until his death.