The former presidents of Ghana and Brazil are being recognized for their contributions in the fight against hunger.

John Agyekum Kufuor and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be awarded the World Food Prize later Thursday during a ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa.

The World Food Prize organization says it chose Mr. Kufuor and Mr. da Silva because their efforts cut in half the number of people in their countries suffering from hunger.

Organizers credit Mr. Kufuor with slashing the hunger rate in Ghana from 34 percent in 1990 to 9 percent in 2004. They praise Mr. da Silva with helping ensure more than 90 percent of Brazil’s children ate three meals a day, while reducing the rate of extreme poverty from 12 percent in 2003 to less than 5 percent in 2009.

Previous winners of the World Food Prize include researchers, lawmakers and others leading anti-hunger efforts around the world.

The World Food Prize was created in 1986 by Norman Borlaug, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work in global agriculture.

The prize is awarded annually to individuals who make significant contributions toward improving food quality, quantity or availability.