Peter VanderZaag of Alliston has been awarded a King Charles III coronation medallion for his potato breeding that has benefitted people in about 60 countries.
He was nominated by MPP Brian Saunderson.
He was involved with food for work projects which were the precursors to the Canada Food Grains Bank.
He has worked to improve potato production in Africa, Asia and Canada and also won the National Friendship award in 2014.
VanderZaag was commissioned to serve with World Renew, a relief and development agency for the Christian Reformed Church of North America, in Bangladesh to assist with potato and vegetable production.
His farming and potato research in Canada have developed new potato varieties for general potato production and support Indigenous communities in Ontario.
