World Food Prize names 40 top agri-food pioneers for 2026

The World Food Prize Foundation has named 40 scientists, policymakers, community builders and innovators as its 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneers. The third-annual list spans 30 countries and six continents and will be formally recognized at the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines this October. Why it matters: - The 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneers list spotlights people working on food security, climate resilience and nutrition at a time of overlapping global food system crises. - The awardees reflect a broad mix of disciplines, from crop and livestock research to AI, methane reductions, child nutrition and food processing. - The recognition signals where the World Food Prize Foundation sees practical, science-driven progress in global agriculture. What happened: - The World Food Prize Foundation named 40 people as the 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneers. - The cohort includes scientists, policymakers, community builders and innovators from 30 countries across six continents. - The awardees range in age from 16 to 81. - The foundation announced the list on June 17, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. - Honorees will be formally recognized during the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, set for October 20–22 in Des Moines. The details: - This is the third year of the TAP program. - The list marks the World Food Prize Foundation’s 40th anniversary. - The cohort includes work in crop and livestock research, child nutrition, natural resources management and methane emissions reductions. - The 2026 list also includes newer areas such as 3D and 4D food printing and AI applications. - Chiedozie Egesi of Nigeria is recognized for accelerating improved cassava varieties across Africa, including pro-vitamin A cassava. - Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg of Kenya is recognized for building the capacity of hundreds of African agricultural scientists and innovators, especially women. - Hayden Montgomery of New Zealand is recognized for helping shape practical methane-reduction pathways in livestock and farming systems. - Anandharamakrishnan Chinnaswamy of India is recognized for research in food processing, preservation and value addition. - Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov of Uzbekistan is recognized for crop genomics work and for building Uzbekistan’s genomics research capacity. - Uta Paszkowski of Germany is recognized for research on beneficial crop-soil fungi relationships that can support lower synthetic fertilizer use and improved nutrient uptake. - Donald MacKenzie of Canada is recognized for leading partnerships that deploy improved crop varieties for smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries. - Josselyn Vega of Ecuador is recognized for strengthening local food systems and more inclusive, resilient agricultural value chains. Between the lines: - The list leans toward applied research and on-the-ground implementation, not just academic achievement. - The range in age and geography suggests the foundation is trying to show the next generation of food-system leadership alongside established experts. - The inclusion of fields like methane reduction and AI points to a broader definition of agri-food innovation than traditional breeding alone. - Mashal Husain said the cohort reflects urgency around global food and nutrition security and highlights innovators delivering practical, science-driven solutions. - Chiedozie Egesi said the recognition affirms that science and leadership can transform lives when translated into action and honors African farmers’ resilience. What’s next: - The 40 honorees will be recognized at the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines in October. - The World Food Prize Foundation’s DialogueNEXT event will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, on June 30, bringing together food systems stakeholders to work on global hunger solutions. The bottom line: - The World Food Prize Foundation is using its 2026 TAP list to elevate practical, cross-disciplinary work that can improve food security at global scale.