Celebrating Science In Action: Nominations Now Open for $10,000 Borlaug Field Award

The World Food Prize Foundation announced today that nominations are now open for the Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation.

The $10,000 award honors an individual under age 40 for exceptional, science-driven achievement in international agriculture and food production. Recipients reflect the intellectual courage, persistence and determination demonstrated by Dr. Borlaug early in his career as a young scientist in Mexico working to combat global hunger and poverty.

"This award celebrates not only exceptional achievements, but also the bold spirit of innovation and resilience that drives real progress in global food systems," said Mashal Husain, President, World Food Prize Foundation. "It has accelerated the careers of young leaders whose science-based solutions carry forward Dr. Borlaug's vision of a world where everyone can thrive."

The 2026 Recipient will be featured in a special award ceremony during the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in October. The Borlaug Dialogue, which culminates with the World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony, gathers innovative experts and global leaders to address key food security and agriculture issues, fostering collaboration among over 1,500 attendees from 65+ countries each year. Since its establishment in 2011, the Borlaug Field Award has been awarded to 14 outstanding individuals representing diverse backgrounds across the globe. The 2026 Recipient will join this outstanding cohort in being recognized on a global level for their leadership, innovation and impact in food systems.

The 2025 Recipient of the Borlaug Field Award was Dr. Derek Barchenger, Senior Scientist and Head of the Global Pepper Breeding Program at the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg). He is recognized for advancing pepper breeding to boost nutrition, productivity and climate resilience for hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers worldwide.

Under his leadership, WorldVeg released dozens of improved pepper varieties, pioneered innovations in heat- and disease-tolerant breeding and strengthened global partnerships to ensure these advances reach farmers across Asia, Africa and Latin America. Barchenger's work reflects a lifelong dedication to demand-driven, science-based solutions that enhance sustainable agriculture, elevate crop diversity and create real-world impact for communities around the globe.

"Receiving the Borlaug Field Award is an incredible honor, and it affirms the power of science when it's rooted in the field," said Barchenger. "For millions of farmers, pepper is everything-an income, a tradition and a future. It's an unsung hero of urban and rural livelihoods, nutrition and resilient food systems. I'm extremely proud of the improved pepper varieties we've developed, tested and shared, and I'm equally proud of the WorldVeg team and the global network that has helped make it all possible."

The individuals chosen to be recipients of the Borlaug Field Award are selected by an anonymous international jury chaired by Dr. W. Ronnie Coffman of Cornell University. The deadline to nominate is June 1. To learn more about the nomination process and requirements, please visit worldfoodprize.org/BFA26.