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Asian Scientist Journal (Oct. 20, 2021)–Mahalingam Govindaraj, a senior scientist with the HarvestPlus, a program of Consortium of Worldwide Agricultural Analysis Facilities (CGIAR), has been named the tenth recipient of the esteemed Norman E. Borlaug Award for his management in mainstreaming biofortified crops since 2011.
The Norman Borlaug Area Award is organized by the World Meals Prize Basis and endowed by the Rockefeller Basis in america. Established a decade in the past, the award acknowledges distinctive researchers working in worldwide agriculture and meals manufacturing with a mission to get rid of world starvation and poverty. Govindaraj acquired the award on October 19, throughout a ceremony on the 2022 Norman E. Borlaug Worldwide Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa.
Govindaraj began his analysis on biofortified crops on the Worldwide Crops Analysis Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India the place he evaluated the crops’ means to build up micronutrients.
In 2014, Govindaraj launched Dhanashakti, a biofortified pearl millet wealthy in iron – important micronutrients partly liable for the formation and progress of crimson blood cells. This was proven in an unbiased scientific research by which iron-deficient youngsters who consumed Dhanashakti had increased crimson blood cells in comparison with those that ate non-biofortified pearl millet. In the identical 12 months, Govindaraj acquired the Useful resource Mobilizer Award, and in 2016 the Promising Younger Scientist Award, each granted by ICRISAT.
Govindaraj’s analysis goes past simply turning pearl millet into nutrition-packed crops. For nearly a decade after the primary launch of Dhanashakti, he has developed many types of biofortified crops. One in every of Govindaraj’s milestones is the dissemination of climate-resilient biofortified pearl millet in dry areas of India and Africa. The consumption of the biofortified pearl millet has improved the well being of rural communities and smallholder farmers within the area. Govindaraj’s energetic collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Analysis additionally led to India turning into the primary nation on the planet to decide to iron and zinc requirements as core traits of their nationwide cultivar launch coverage.
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Supply: World Meals Prize ; Picture: Jorgina Tan/Asian Scientist Journal
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