Norman Borlaug Field Award 2023

Deadline: June 15, 2023

The $10,000 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation, will be presented every October in Des Moines, Iowa, by the World Food Prize Foundation.

This award will recognize exceptional, science-based achievement in international agriculture and food production by an individual under 40 who has demonstrated intellectual courage, stamina, and determination in the fight to eliminate global hunger and poverty.

The award will honour an individual working closely and directly “in the field” or at the production or processing level with farmers, animal herders, fishers or others in rural communities in any discipline or enterprise across the entire food production, processing, and distribution chain.

SEE ALSO: African Research Fellowships (ARF) 2023

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria for award

Candidates applying for the Norman Borlaug Award will be evaluated and selected based on the attributes and accomplishments that reflect those demonstrated by Dr Borlaug during his work in field research and application, which include:

• Persistence. Exhibiting Dr Borlaug’s “never give up” attitude, even in the face of adversity, difficult circumstances, limitation of resources, and/or critique from colleagues.
   
• Innovation. Applying Dr Borlaug’s credo “reach for the stars” in pursuing innovative pathways, methods, and solutions to provide adequate food and nutrition for the world’s people.
   
• Communication. Emulating Dr Borlaug’s example of understanding local cultures; working effectively in cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary situations; identifying the needs and assets of people in a given community or region; and connecting with a diverse array of stakeholders.
   
• Research/Science.  Facilitating positive change through rigorous research methods, techniques, management approaches, and/or strategies that result in increased food production, availability, distribution, and/or better nutrition.
   
• Extension. Extending innovative discoveries and technologies in plant, animal, and/or food science to underserved farmers and consumers.
   
• Education. Providing hands-on science training and education to stakeholders in rural communities, including farm families and agricultural and food production workers.
   
• Application. Applying improved technologies and/or management systems to crops and/or animal agriculture for sustainable production, more nutritious food, and poverty reduction.
   
• Leadership. Demonstrating leadership of other agricultural professionals, field researchers, and/or practitioners working in collaborative programs to reduce hunger and poverty and revitalise communities.
   
• Impact. Increasing the amount of food available through all of the above.  Dr Borlaug was always about making a difference and “putting more food on the plate.”

Nominee Eligibility

• Nominees must be under 40 (40th birthday not reached before World Food Day, October 16, of the year the award is presented).
   
• Nominees must be actively working in the discipline, research area, position, or on the project(s) for which they are being recognized. They may be associated with a public or private educational, research or development organization or related entity.
   
• Nominees remain eligible for consideration beyond the year of their nomination, at the discretion of the Award Jury, as long as the award criteria and age requirement are met.
   
• The award is intended to be presented to one person. In unusual and rare circumstances, another person may share the award for pronounced collaborative efforts and achievement.

Application Requirements

All nominations for the Norman Borlaug Award must be submitted in English online at www.worldfoodprize.org/borlaugfieldawardsubmissionform.

Required Nomination Documentation:

• A concise statement (3000-word limit) explaining and describing:
    1) the nominee’s work and accomplishments, with details and examples that illustrate several of the criteria
        specified for this award;
    2) how, in doing this work, the nominee reflects the attributes demonstrated by Dr Borlaug during his early career; and
    3) the impact or results of the nominee’s work.
   
• Nominee’s Curriculum Vitae or resume, including date of birth, country of origin, education, and professional background.
   
• One (1) nomination letter and two (2) letters of support describing, explaining and emphasizing the main achievements of the nominee must be provided with the nomination.  Due to the high volume of nominations, please do not submit more than two support letters.
   
• Photos: A headshot of the nominee is required (minimum 300 dpi resolution); 2 additional action photos of the nominee at work may also be submitted.

Application Registration Deadline: 15th June 2023

To Apply: Click here

Official Website: Click here