Dr Padmaja Ravula Receives World Food Prize Foundation’s “Inspiring the Next Generation Award”
Dr Padmaja Ravula, Principal Scientist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), has been honored with the “Inspiring the Next Generation Award” by the World Food Prize Foundation.
At the Dialogue Next India event organized by the World Food Prize Foundation (WFP) from 8 - 9 Sep 2025 at New Delhi, India, Dr Padmaja Ravula was honored by Julie Borlaug, granddaughter of Dr Norman Borlaug, for her outstanding dedication to the Foundation’s Youth Programs and her transformative role in shaping young scientists at ICRISAT, Hyderabad.
A sociologist by training, Dr Padmaja leads ICRISAT’s Gender and Youth Program and is a core member of CGIAR Initiative on Gender Equality. She also spearheads the Dryland Academy, which focuses on training and capacity building across the agri-food sector. The award particularly recognizes her leadership in implementing the WFP's Borlaug-Ruan Internship Program at ICRISAT. ICRISAT has been one of the International internship sites for the program since 2010 and has hosted 15 Borlaug interns so far.
Dr Padmaja has been a steadfast advocate for inclusivity and capacity building, serving as a resource person in numerous national and international training programs. At ICRISAT, she has championed initiatives that integrate gender, youth, and capacity building into projects. Her pioneering work on gender and nutrition, showcased in several publications, has shaped policies and practices across India and Africa.
This recognition is fitting to her unwavering commitment to building inclusive, resilient, and future-ready food systems.
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