Inaugural Top Agri-food Pioneers (TAP) Cohort Launched

In an effort to identify and celebrate global trailblazers working in food and agriculture, the World Food Prize Foundation has launched its first-ever Top Agri-food Pioneers (TAP) List.

This year's TAP awardees come from 20 countries on six continents, represent a range of ages and work in varied fields, from farming to animal and crop science, agtech, nutrition, education, advocacy and more. The full list is available to view on the World Food Prize Foundation website.

"As the world contends with growing challenges to food systems, innovators are critical to ensuring food security, sustainability and livelihoods. We are thrilled to highlight these 38 diverse pioneers and their work," said Ambassador Terry Branstad, president of the World Food Prize Foundation. "We hope this inaugural TAP class serves as the foundation for a growing network of trailblazers in food systems."

This year's awardees represent the first cohort of TAP, a community intended to be expanded each year to facilitate greater co-learning and collaboration. The announcement comes in honor of the Foundation's 38th anniversary this year and recognizes 38 pioneers, who will be featured at the 2024 Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, October 29-31.

Among the awardees are:

• Jorge Heraud (Peru & USA), a visionary in agtech best known for driving innovations like the "See & Spray" technology, helped revolutionize weed control. Heraud continues to influence the future of agriculture by supporting cutting-edge technologies that promise sustainable and efficient farming solutions.

• Isnawati Hidayah(Indonesia), a leading advocate for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation, works closely with local communities to support sustainable development, as well as with government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations to advance policies that benefit smallholder farmers and protect natural resources.

• Doreen Irungu (Kenya), a pioneering agritech entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in women's empowerment, is working to provide rural women with training, technology, and access to markets through her organization, Ustawi Afrika.

• Paul Newnham (Australia), a leading advocate for sustainable food systems, works across sectors to drive innovative solutions for food-related challenges. His leadership emphasizes collaboration, grassroots activism, and the critical role of chefs in promoting sustainable, healthy, and equitable food systems worldwide.

• Giles Oldroyd (United Kingdom), a distinguished plant scientist renowned for his research on plant-microbe interactions, focuses on enhancing crop resilience and productivity through innovative biotechnological methods. His contributions are pivotal in advancing sustainable agriculture and promoting scientific solutions for modern farming issues.

"I am deeply humbled and honored to be named a Top Agri-food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation, an organization whose commitment to global food security inspires us all," said Han Chen, co-founder and CEO of ZeaKal, a biotech start-up revolutionizing crop production by enhancing photosynthesis to boost the oil and protein content of major food and energy crops. "Agriculture has always been a purpose-driven industry. We are now being called on again to pioneer new solutions that solve the complex and intertwined challenges of food and climate security."

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Editor's Notes:

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The full TAP list is here:

• Mathildah Amollo, from Kenya | Founder, Director, CEO of GreatLakes Feeds Limited

• Ogugua Aworh, from Nigeria | George Coumantaros Distinguished Professor at the University of Ibadan

• Gary Bañuelos, from the USA | Plant/Soil Scientist at USDA-ARS

• Marianne Banziger, from Switzerland | Consultant, Formerly DDG for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

• Hilary Barry, from Ireland | Secretary General LadyAgri at the LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub

• Mary Boote Roth, from the USA | CEO of the Global Farmer Network

• Bas Bouman, from the Netherlands | Research Director Sustainable Impact at the International Rice Research Institute

• Tim Bucher, from the USA | CEO and Co-Founder of Agtonomy

• Han Chen, from the USA | President and CEO of ZeaKal

• Norhaya Demacaling, from the Philippines | Director for Programs at School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) Philippines, Inc.

• Appolinaire Djikeng, from Cameroon | Director General of ILRI and Managing Director of CGIAR Livestock-Based System

• Simon Haldrup, from the Netherlands | Co-Founder and CEO of Agreena

• Jorge Heraud, from Peru and the USA | Former Vice President of Automation and Autonomy at John Deere

• Isnawati Hidayah, from Indonesia | Researcher and Lecturer, Young Scientists at Group World Food Forum

• Doreen Irungu, from Kenya | Co-Founder and Executive Chairperson at Ustawi Afrika

• Innoscensia John, from Tanzania | Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Dar es Salaam

• Pawan Kumar, from India | Principal Agricultural Lead at the SM Sehgal Foundation

• Andrew Mack, from the USA | CEO of Agromovil

• Samarendu Mohanty, from the USA | Vice President of the Rice Trader and International Commodity Institute

• Tara Nathan, from Canada and the USA | Executive Vice President, Community Pass, Strategic Growth at Mastercard

• Chris Nelson, from the USA | President and CEO of Kemin Industries

• Paul Newnham, from Australia | Executive Director of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub

• Sylvanus Odjo, from Benin | Scientist/Post-Harvest Specialist at International Maize and and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

• Giles Oldroyd, from the UK | Russel R. Geiger Professor of Crop Science at the University of Cambridge and Project Leader of Engineering Nitrogen Symbiosis Agriculture (ENSA)

• Jehiel Oliver, from the USA | Founder and CEO at Hello Tractor

• Priera Panescu, from the USA | Lead Scientist/Plant-based specialist at The Good Food Institute

• Janina Peter, from Germany | Innovation Advisor at the World Food Forum and Founder and CEO of Bridging Gaps

• Magi Richani, from Lebanon and the USA | CEO and Founder of Nobell Foods

• Lisa Schulte-Moore, from the USA | Director and Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Iowa State University

• Akpem Teresa Shadrach, from Nigeria | Founder and CEO at Vet Konect LTD

• Vijay Singh Meena, from India, Senior Scientist at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR)

• Walter Suza, from the USA | George Washington Carver Endowed Chair and Adjunct Associate Professor at Iowa State University

• Alivan Wardhana, from Indonesia | Founder of Literasi Anak Banua

• Jason Wargent, from the UK | Founder and Chief Science Officer at BioLumic

• Leigh Ann Winowiecki, from the USA, Soil and Land Health Research Lead at World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)

• Guoyao Wu, from China | University Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University

• Stephen Xu, from the USA | Research Geneticist at USDA-ARS, Western Regional Research Center

• Huaijun Zhou, from the USA | Professor of Animal Science at UC Davis, Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Science

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