DES MOINES — Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad will take over as president of the World Food Prize Foundation, considered the pre-eminent award for global agriculture.

Branstad, the longest-serving governor in Iowa’s history and former ambassador to China, said he’s hoping to raise the visibility of the organization and continue to fund research into the quantity and quality of agriculture.

The organization gives an annual $250,000 award to an individual for their “achievements in improving the quality, quantity, and availability of food in the world,” according to a press release. Cynthia Rosenzweig, an American agronomist, received the award in 2022.

“I’m very honored and very pleased to be asked to be the new president of the world food prize,” Branstad said in an interview. “It’s been a wonderful thing for our state. We’ve also helped get young people involved in STEM education and go all over the world.”