Dr. Swati Nayak, a young scientist from Odisha working at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in New Delhi, has been honored with the prestigious Norman Borlaug Field Award for 2023. This award recognizes her outstanding contributions to field research and its application in the domains of food and nutrition. The recognition was bestowed upon her in Des Moines, Iowa. The Norman Borlaug Field Award is given to remarkable scientists under the age of 40 who focus on food and nutrition security, hunger eradication, and embody the character and attributes of the renowned Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Green Revolution’s Chief Architect, Dr. Norman Borlaug.
Dr. Nayak currently serves as the CGIAR-International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) South Asia Regional Lead for Seed System and Product Management, based in Manila. She is acknowledged for her commitment to inclusive agricultural extension and technology transfer, essential for bridging the gap between scientific advancements and tangible benefits for farmers. She is known for her advocacy of sustainable agricultural technologies and enterprise development. Dr. Nayak’s pioneering leadership in validating and scaling participatory field research and extension models has garnered widespread acclaim and has been widely adopted by national institutions. Her work has been particularly inspirational to women and others who follow her example.
Dr. Nayak’s extensive work has included organizing over 10,000 on-farm trials for more than 500 rice varieties. She has collaborated with thousands of smallholder farmers across diverse ecosystems in Asia and Africa. Notably, in Odisha, she earned the moniker ‘Bihana Didi’ for introducing the drought-tolerant rice variety ‘Shahabhagi Dhan,’ which has become a vital part of every farm family’s diet and crop rotation. She is the third Indian and the first from Odisha to receive the distinguished Norman Borlaug Field Award, marking a significant recognition of her contributions to agricultural research and food security.
Dr. Swati Nayak, a young scientist from Odisha working at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in New Delhi, has been honored with the prestigious Norman Borlaug Field Award for 2023. This award recognizes her outstanding contributions to field research and its application in the domains of food and nutrition. The recognition was bestowed upon her in Des Moines, Iowa. The Norman Borlaug Field Award is given to remarkable scientists under the age of 40 who focus on food and nutrition security, hunger eradication, and embody the character and attributes of the renowned Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Green Revolution’s Chief Architect, Dr. Norman Borlaug.
Dr. Nayak currently serves as the CGIAR-International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) South Asia Regional Lead for Seed System and Product Management, based in Manila. She is acknowledged for her commitment to inclusive agricultural extension and technology transfer, essential for bridging the gap between scientific advancements and tangible benefits for farmers. She is known for her advocacy of sustainable agricultural technologies and enterprise development. Dr. Nayak’s pioneering leadership in validating and scaling participatory field research and extension models has garnered widespread acclaim and has been widely adopted by national institutions. Her work has been particularly inspirational to women and others who follow her example.
Dr. Nayak’s extensive work has included organizing over 10,000 on-farm trials for more than 500 rice varieties. She has collaborated with thousands of smallholder farmers across diverse ecosystems in Asia and Africa. Notably, in Odisha, she earned the moniker ‘Bihana Didi’ for introducing the drought-tolerant rice variety ‘Shahabhagi Dhan,’ which has become a vital part of every farm family’s diet and crop rotation. She is the third Indian and the first from Odisha to receive the distinguished Norman Borlaug Field Award, marking a significant recognition of her contributions to agricultural research and food security.
