Evangelina Villegas

Evangelina Villegas (October 24, 1924 – April 24, 2017[1]) was a Mexican cereal biochemist whose work with maize led to the development of quality protein maize (QPM). She and her colleague, Surinder Vasal, shared the 2000 World Food Prize for this achievement.[2]

Evangelina Villegas
Born	October 24, 1924 Mexico City
Died	April 24, 2017 (aged 92) Mexico City
Nationality	Mexican
Alma mater	National Polytechnic Institute, Kansas State University and North Dakota State University.
Known for	Quality Protein Maize
Awards	2000 World Food Prize
Scientific career
Fields	Cereal chemistry
Institutions	National Institute of Nutrition, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).

Education

Villegas did a B.A. chemistry and biology at the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico and earned a M.Sc. on cereal technology from Kansas State University.[1] She also earned a Ph.D. in cereal chemistry from the North Dakota State University.[1]

Awards and honors

• (1972): Distinguished alumni award: National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico[1]
• (2000): Woman of the year: Mexico National Award[1]
• (2000): World Food Prize (shared with Surinder Vasal)[2]
• (2001): Lázaro Cárdenas Medal: National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico[1]
• (2002): Doctor of Science (honoris causa): Chapingo Autonomous University[1]
• (2013): Distinguished alumni award: Kansas State University[1]

Selected publications

• Evangelina Villegas, Edwin Theodore Mertz. 1971. Chemical screening methods for maize protein quality at CIMMYT. Número 20 de Research bulletin - International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. Editor CIMMYT, 14 pp.

Books

• S. Twumasi-Afriyie, w. Haag, Evangelina Villegas. 1999. Quality protein maize in Ghana: A partnership in research, development, and transfer of technology. En: Breth, SA (ed.)

• Enrique I. Ortega M., Reinald Bauer, Evangelina Villegas M. 1985. Métodos químicos usados en el CIMMYT para determinar la calidad de proteína de los cereales. 2ª edición de CIMMYT, 32 pp.

• Evangelina Villegas, Enrique Ortega Martínez, Reinald Bauer. 1984. Chemical methods used at CIMMYT for determining protein quality in cereal grains. Editor Protein Quality Laboratory, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, 35 pp.

• ——. 1968. Variability in lysine content of wheat, rye and triticale proteins. Editor International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, 32 pp.

• ——. 1967. Variability in lysine content of wheat, rye and triticale proteins. Editor Dakota State University. 158 pp.

• ——. 1963. The role of sulfhydryl groups in flour. Editor Kansas State University, 124 pp.

References

1. "Tribute to Evangelina Villegas, co-creator of Quality-Protein Maize, 2000 World Food Prize laureate". www.cimmyt.org. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. Archived from the original on 2017-04-26. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
2. "2000: Vasal and Villegas - The World Food Prize - Improving the Quality, Quantity and Availability of Food in the World". www.worldfoodprize.org. Retrieved 2015-08-20.