IRRI scientist wins prestigious global prize for his impact in developing world

TRIESTE, Italy—The Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) has selected Dr. J.K. Ladha (photo) to be one of two recipients of its 2015 TWAS prize for outstanding contributions to the agricultural sciences.

The TWAS prizes are annually awarded to scientists and engineers in nine different categories whose efforts have had a significant impact in the developing world.

Ladha, a soil scientist and agronomist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), is being honored for his development and promotion of conservation practices in the rice-wheat system of South Asia. He is sharing the 2015 prize in this category with LI Feng-Min of China.

Ladha’s work, in collaboration with many of IRRI’s national partners, takes a holistic, systems approach that covers various components of agronomic, soil, and water management.

Through his research, several integrated crop and resource management technologies have been adopted to help resource-poor farmers, according to the Agriculture and Food Security Center of Columbia University. 

Ladha has received various international accolades including the 2015 International Service in Crop Science Award from the Crop Science Society of America. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society of Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America, and the Indian Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Founded in 1983 and based in Italy, TWAS is the World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries. The major objectives of TWAS are to recognize, support, and encourage the pursuit of science excellence in developing countries.

TWAS annually recognizes individual scientists from developing countries in recognition of their outstanding contribution to knowledge. TWAS prizes are awarded in nine fields: agricultural sciences, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, engineering sciences, mathematics, medical sciences,  physics, and social sciences.

Each TWAS Prize carries a cash award of USD15,000. The winners will lecture about their research during TWAS's 27th General Meeting in Rwanda in November 2016, when they will also receive a plaque and the prize money.

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J.K. Ladha receives Crop Science Society of America award for outstanding contributions to agronomy

J.K. Ladha, a principal soil scientist and agronomist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), is the recipient of the 2015 International Service in Crop Science Award for his outstanding contributions to agronomy. The award is given by the Crop Science Society of America.

Dr.  Ladha is a recognized authority in science and technology for food security and sustainable management of the world’s major cereal cropping systems. He is also the IRRI representative to India and Nepal, and provides leadership in developing and executing the vision and agenda of the Institutes’s research on crop and resource management in South Asia.

The impact of his research is evident from the number-one rank for number of publications in refereed journals and in h-index for citations in the whole CGIAR system. Dr. Ladha authored or co-authored 209 research articles in peer-reviewed international journals, and 95 in proceedings or books. Currently, Dr. Ladha is the regional editor of the journal Biology and Fertility of Soils.

The award will be formally presented to Dr. Ladha on 17 November during the scientific society’s International Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

View press release: Crop Science Society of America Announces 2015 Award Recipient

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