Dr Mamta Sharma receives M.S. Swaminathan–Grow Further Award

New Delhi: Dr Mamta Sharma, Principal Scientist & Lead of the Legumes Pathology Program and the Climate Change Research for Plant Protection at ICRISAT, has been honored with the prestigious M.S. Swaminathan–Grow Further Award for her outstanding contributions to agricultural research benefiting smallholder farmers in Asia and Africa.

Jointly launched by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and Grow Further, a Seattle-based global philanthropy, the award recognizes agricultural innovations that directly improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, particularly those most vulnerable to climate change.

Dr Sharma’s pioneering work has contributed to the development of more than 30 disease-resistant pulse varieties to combat major pests and diseases in chickpea and pigeonpea. She was instrumental in establishing the Climate Change Research Facility to develop modern crop protection tools and technologies, and through the implementation of climate-smart protection and production technologies, she has reached over 40,000 farmers in rainfed regions of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, and Telangana, strengthening food security and enhancing farm incomes.

“This is a well-deserved recognition and a testament to the dedication of Dr Sharma and her team in ensuring agriculture thrives despite the emerging pest and disease threats accelerated by climate change. Her work directly safeguards farmer livelihoods and reduces the risks of farming,” commended Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT.

The award, which carries a USD 25,000 prize, was presented to Dr Sharma by M Venkaiah Naidu, Former Vice President of India, during the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference 2025 held from 7–9 August in New Delhi.

“At a time when there has been global funding cuts and drastic setbacks to timely and critical scientific research, opportunities like the Grow Further Award are more crucial than ever before to encourage young scientists who are working towards pragmatic and much-needed solutions to problems of hunger, nutrition, health and food security,” noted Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chair, MSSRF.

“Prof M.S. Swaminathan reminded us that science must begin with the farmer. This award reflects that philosophy—honoring those whose work uplifts communities and drives real, lasting change in the lives of small-scale producers,” said Dr Peter Kelly, Founder, Grow Further.