CSSP-SABRAO awards Jauhar Ali prestigious Sant S. Virmani Hybrid Rice prize

The Crop Science Society of the Philippines, Inc. (CSSP) proudly announced that this year's recipient of the Sant S. Virmani Hybrid Rice Award is Dr. Jauhar Ali, IRRI Principal Scientist and Research Unit Leader - Hybrid Rice Technology for Industry of the Rice Breeding Innovations Department. Dr. Ali also heads the Hybrid Rice Development Consortium (HRDC) and Project Leader and Coordinator for Asia & East South Asia to the Green Super Rice (GSR).

Dr. Ali bested all other nominees after thorough deliberation and critical evaluation of the CSSP Achievement Awards Committee, approved by the 2023-2024 CSSP Board of Trustees. It is a fitting recognition as Dr. Ali has just come from a successful Inception Meeting of the project with the Government of Madhya Pradesh entitled, "Development of Climate-resilient, Bio-fortified HYV of Paddy for Madhya Pradesh in Collaboration with IRRI," jointly organized by IRRI and Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV), held on July 24-26 in Jabalpur, India. Dr. P.K. Mishra, JNKVV Vice Chancellor, congratulates the IRRI team and is eager to strengthen the research collaboration with IRRI through this project. Dr M. Selvendran, Secretary, Farmers Welfare and Agricultural Development (FWAD), Madhya Pradesh Government, wants the IRRI technologies to bring socio-economic benefits to millions of tribal farmers in the rice belt through close collaboration with the JNKVV scientists.

Dr. Ali's recognition will coincide with the Awards and Closing Ceremonies of the CSSP-SABRAO (Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in Asia and Oceania) 2024 International Conference on Breeding and Crop Science, which will be held on 15 August 2024 at the Crimson Hotel, Filinvest-Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The award includes a plaque and a cash prize.

Congratulations, Dr. Ali, on a very well-deserved recognition!