Indian American agricultural scientist Dr. Karim Maredia has been chosen to receive the 2026 Borlaug CAST Communication Award, recognizing his efforts to make agricultural science more accessible and meaningful for farmers, policymakers, researchers, and communities around the world. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology is scheduled to honor him at an event in Washington, D.C., on December 10, 2026.
Dr. Maredia currently serves as an Associate Dean, professor, and Director of the World Agriculture Center at Michigan State University. His professional journey began far from the academic institutions where he now works. He grew up in a small village in Gujarat, India, where his father was involved in dairy farming. Observing the everyday difficulties faced by farming families helped shape his interest in agriculture and inspired him to pursue a career focused on improving farming systems.
After completing his undergraduate education in agriculture in India, Dr. Maredia moved to the United States to continue his academic journey. He earned a master’s degree in Integrated Pest Management from Alabama A&M University before completing a doctorate in Plant Breeding and Integrated Pest Management at the University of Arkansas.
Throughout his career, Dr. Maredia has focused on connecting agricultural research with practical solutions. His work aims to ensure that scientific knowledge does not remain limited to laboratories and academic publications but reaches the people and communities who can benefit from it.
His contributions include training more than 15,000 agricultural professionals from approximately 80 countries. He has also supported international research partnerships, hosted visiting scholars, and contributed to more than 130 publications as an author or editor. In addition, his work has helped secure support for agricultural research and development initiatives.
A major part of Dr. Maredia’s work involves strengthening communication between scientists, government institutions, and farmers. By helping research-based knowledge reach agricultural communities, he has supported efforts related to improving food production, reducing crop losses, and strengthening food security.
Despite building much of his academic career in the United States, Dr. Maredia has maintained strong professional connections with India. He serves as the Foreign Secretary of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of India, where he contributes to international cooperation in agricultural research and innovation.
The Borlaug CAST Communication Award honors individuals who excel at explaining agriculture and food science to broader audiences. Named in recognition of Norman Borlaug and his contributions to global food production, the award celebrates the importance of making scientific knowledge understandable and useful.
Dr. Maredia’s journey from a farming community in Gujarat to an internationally recognized agricultural leader reflects the global impact that research, education, and effective scientific communication can have on farmers and food systems worldwide.
