Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application 2026 (up to $10,000) – YOA

Deadline: June 1, 2026

Applications are open for the Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application 2026. The Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation, will probably be offered each October in Des Moines, Iowa, by the World Food Prize Foundation.

This award will acknowledge distinctive, science-based mostly achievement in worldwide agriculture and meals manufacturing by a person below 40 who has clearly demonstrated mental braveness, stamina, and willpower within the combat to get rid of world starvation and poverty.

The award will honor a person who’s working carefully and immediately “in the field” or on the manufacturing or processing stage with farmers, animal herders, fishers or others in rural communities, in any self-discipline or enterprise throughout all the meals manufacturing, processing, and distribution chain.

Award

• The award comes with $10,000. The Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application will probably be offered in a ceremony throughout World Food Prize Week occasions in Des Moines, Iowa, on or close to World Food Day, October 16.

Eligibility

• Nominees have to be below the age of 40 (fortieth birthday not reached earlier than World Food Day, October 16, of the 12 months by which the award is offered).
• Nominees have to be actively working within the self-discipline, analysis space, place, or on the venture(s) for which they’re being acknowledged. They could also be related to a public or non-public instructional, analysis or growth group or associated entity.
• Nominees stay eligible for consideration past the 12 months of their nomination, on the discretion of the Award Jury, so long as the award standards and age requirement are met.
• The award is meant to be offered to one individual. In uncommon and uncommon circumstances, one other individual could share the award for pronounced collaborative efforts and achievement.

Criteria

Candidates will probably be evaluated and chosen based mostly on the attributes and accomplishments that replicate these demonstrated by Dr. Borlaug throughout his work in subject analysis and application, which embody:

• Persistence. Exhibiting Dr. Borlaug’s “never give up” angle, even within the face of adversity, tough circumstances, limitation of sources, and/or critique from colleagues.
• Innovation. Applying Dr. Borlaug’s credo “reach for the stars” in pursuing revolutionary pathways, strategies, and options in a quest to present satisfactory meals and diet for the world’s folks.
• Communication. Emulating Dr. Borlaug’s instance of understanding native cultures; working successfully in cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary conditions; figuring out the wants and belongings of individuals in a given group or area; and connecting with a various array of stakeholders.
• Research/Science.  Facilitating constructive change by rigorous analysis strategies, strategies, administration approaches, and/or methods that end in elevated meals manufacturing, availability, distribution, and/or higher diet.
• Extension. Extending revolutionary discoveries and applied sciences in plant science, animal science, and/or meals science to underserved farmers and shoppers.
• Education. Providing arms-on science coaching and schooling to stakeholders in rural communities, together with farm households and agricultural and meals manufacturing employees.
• Application. Applying improved applied sciences and/or administration programs to crops and/or animal agriculture for sustainable manufacturing, extra nutritious meals, and a discount of poverty. 
• Leadership. Demonstrating management of different agricultural professionals, subject researchers, and/or practitioners working in collaborative packages aimed toward lowering starvation and poverty and revitalizing communities.
• Impact. Increasing the quantity of meals out there by the entire above.  Dr. Borlaug was at all times about making a difference and “putting more food on the plate.”

Nomination

Required Nomination Documentation:

• A concise assertion (3000-phrase restrict) explaining and describing:
  • the nominee’s work and accomplishments, with particulars and examples that illustrate a number of of the standards specified for this award;
  • how, in doing this work, the nominee displays the attributes demonstrated by Dr. Borlaug throughout his early profession; and
  • the affect or outcomes of the nominee’s work.
• Nominee’s Curriculum Vitae or resume, together with date of beginning, nation of origin, schooling, and skilled background.
• One (1) nomination letter and two (2) letters of assist describing, explaining and emphasizing the primary achievements of the nominee have to be supplied with the nomination. Due to the excessive quantity of nominations, don’t submit greater than two assist letters.
• Photos: A head shot of the nominee is required (minimal 300 dpi decision); 2 extra motion images of the nominee at work can also be submitted.

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to Norman Borlaug Award.