IRRI - International Rice Research Institute
IRRI - International Rice Research Institute
08/28/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/28/2024 01:11
IRRI Scientist Bas Bouman among 2024 World Food Prize Top Agri-Food Pioneers
Des Moines, IOWA - 28 August 2024 - The World Food Prize Foundation names International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Scientist Dr. Bas Bouman as one of its inaugural 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneers (TAP).
The TAP list, a new initiative by the World Food Prize Foundation in honor of the organization's 38th anniversary, features 38 leading innovators, representing 20 countries from six continents, working to transform global food systems.
The TAP List recognizes pioneers of any age, background or career focus working in fields related to food or agriculture, from farming to animal and crop science, agtech, nutrition, education, advocacy and more.
"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, World Food Prize Foundation. "We hope this inaugural TAP class serves as the foundation for a growing network of trailblazers in food systems."
A true rice-based food systems innovator
Dr. Bouman is an agricultural engineer and agro-ecologist with more than 35 years of experience working in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. He is an internationally recognized expert on sustainable agricultural development and food security, with specific expertise on water management and rice.
He has held positions on various international advisory and governance bodies including the CGIAR Board, Sustainable Rice Platform, Comprehensive Assessment of Water and Food, and is member of the prestigious Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities. From 2012 to 2022 Bas was the Director of the CGIAR Research Program on Rice, also known as the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP). With an annual value of around 100 M $US, GRiSP strategized and aligned the rice research for development agenda of a global partnership of over 900 partners worldwide from the governmental, non-governmental, public, private, and civil society sectors.
Dr. Bouman is currently the Research Director and the Head of the Sustainable Impact through Rice-Based Systems Department at IRRI. The Department of around 200 staff, is a multidisciplinary research division that encompasses the fields of agronomy, soil and water sciences, weed and pest management, climate change (adaptation and mitigation), geographic information systems and remote sensing, digital agriculture, mechanization and post-harvest, foresight and impact assessment, gender research, and work on policies, markets, consumers and nutrition, and value chains.
Joining Dr. Bouman in the list is former IRRI scientist and Social Sciences head Dr. Samarendu Mohanty. The 2024 TAP list is the first cohort and is envisioned to annually grow and expand into a global network of trailblazers that will work together to facilitate co-learning and collaboration across food systems. They will also be featured at the 2024 Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 29-31.