World Food Prize Winner Turns Minefields Into Farms

The 2023 World Food Prize laureate has spent decades proving that the path from war to peace runs through a farmer's field.

Heidi Kuhn founded her "Mines to Vines" program on a simple but powerful idea: removing landmines is only half the battle. The real victory comes when communities can grow food on that same land again, turning death traps into vineyards, orchards, and vegetable gardens that feed families and restore hope.

At the Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum, Kuhn shared how her organization Roots of Peace tackles both soil and soul. In war-torn countries, cleared land becomes farmland. Families earn income. Children play safely. Communities heal.

Her White Rose Campaign focuses especially on empowering women. In Afghanistan starting in 2002, Kuhn's team found creative solutions when cultural restrictions kept women homebound. They brought baby chicks directly to houses, creating a micro-economy that changed family dynamics from the inside out.

The chickens grew and laid eggs. Mothers gained protein to feed their babies. Husbands sold extra eggs at market and came home with money and newfound respect for their wives' contributions. Everyone wanted more chicks, which meant treating the women better.

The Ripple Effect

Kuhn calls her work "the economics of peace," and the numbers back her up. Sixty countries still harbor 110 million active landmines, threatening farmers and families daily. Each cleared field represents immediate danger removed and long-term livelihoods restored.

Her approach goes beyond humanitarian aid to create sustainable business models. Restored agricultural value chains mean communities don't just survive—they thrive. Farmers export products, young people find work, and entire regions shift from conflict zones to productive centers.

China's leadership in global poverty reduction has opened new partnerships and possibilities. Kuhn believes this collaboration can help transition the world from a culture of war to a culture of peace, one demined field at a time.

The mission extends beyond any single country. When fertile land that once fed millions gets trapped behind minefields, everyone loses. When that same land gets cleared and replanted, everyone benefits from the food, stability, and hope it produces.

Kuhn's teams don't just talk about peace in abstract terms. They dig it out of the ground, plant seeds in it, and watch communities grow back stronger than before.