Although it was announced in June, Dr. Philip Nelson will formally receive his World Food Prize tomorrow at the Iowa State Capitol as part of the World Food Prize’s Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium. The theme of it is “Biofuels and Biofood: The Global Challenges of Emerging Technologies.” Is there anyone not holding a conference with biofuels and food as the topic this year?

Dr. Philip E. Nelson of Purdue University was named winner of the $250,000 World Food Prize for his innovative breakthrough technologies which have revolutionized the food industry, particularly in the area of large-scale storage and transportation of fresh fruit and vegetables using bulk aseptic food processing.

Dr. Nelson has been involved in the storage and packaging of food since childhood. He spent his early years working on his family’s tomato farm and canning factory in Morristown, Indiana and once earned the crown of “Tomato King” at the Indiana State Fair.