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Netherlands scientist, humanitarian named 2026 World Food Prize Laureate

A humanitarian and food safety expert from the Netherlands has been named the 2026 World Food Prize Laureate.

World Food Prize Foundation President Mashal Husain says Huub Lelieveld will receive the $500,000 award for leading a volunteer movement of 113 countries that helped drive safer, more affordable, easier-to-access food.

“His work is not driven by recognition, but by responsibility,” Husain said. “He reminds us that feeding the world is not a task for one person, one nation, or one discipline. It’s a fight we must all join.”

Foundation CEO Tom Vilsack says Lelieveld has spent six decades in food safety research, delivering the scientific evidence for modern regulations, legislation and international standards that safeguard the world’s food supply.

“Each of us should reflect today when we sit down for whatever meal we sit down, that behind that meal are literally thousands of people who are dedicated to making sure that food is safe,” Vilsack said.

In 2004, Lelieveld established the Global Harmonization Initiative (GHI), a global food safety organization that today connects more than 1,600 volunteer experts across a vast network of countries to advance science-based food safety and reduce barriers to the safe distribution of food worldwide.

He will be honored with the World Food Prize at a ceremony later this fall.