On 02 December 2009, a reception was held in New York City for a recently published book based on the life of the late Bent Skovmand, former head of CIMMYT wheat genetic resources. The Viking in the Wheat Field, written by Susan Dworkin, tells a hidden but heroic story of scientists—many associated with CIMMYT—for whom increasing the world’s food supply has been nothing less than a life’s calling. It is a story of passion, commitment, and scientific discovery. The reception was attended by about 50 people, including Bent’s wife Eugenia and daughter Astrid, Tom Payne, head of genetic wheat resources at CIMMYT, and friends of CIMMYT Cal Qualset and Bob Goodman.
Capacity development 