His creation of the world’s first biofortified pearl millet not only highlights his scientific expertise but also underscores his dedication to tackling global nutrition challenges.
This is the inspirational story of @Dr. Mahalingam Govindaraj, whose journey starts with his natural curiosity, shaping a path of learning and achievement.
Growing up in a farming family in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Govindaraj became the first in his family to graduate. His love for agriculture began early, driven by his curiosity about how science could improve farming. This curiosity set him on an extraordinary journey.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the @Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam, Tamil Nadu, followed by Master of Science and Doctorate degrees in plant breeding and genetics from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
From 2011 to 2021, he served as a CGIAR researcher at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
Over more than a decade, he has overseen the development and distribution of high-yield, high-iron, and high-zinc pearl millet varieties, greatly improving the nutritional intake of numerous farmers and their communities.
In 2014, while at ICRISAT, he introduced the world’s first biofortified pearl millet, known as Dhanashakti. Independent clinical studies revealed that just 200 grams of Dhanashakti provided women with over 80 percent of their recommended daily iron intake, compared to a mere 20 percent found in regular pearl millet varieties.
Today, more than 120,000 farming households in India cultivate this specialized crop. Projections indicate that by 2024, over 9 million people in India will enjoy the health benefits of consuming iron- and zinc-rich pearl millet, thanks to Dr. Govindaraj’s groundbreaking work.
Govindaraj’s active collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research led to India becoming the first country in the world to commit to iron and zinc standards as core traits in their national cultivar release policy. Pearl millet became the first crop in which minimum levels of these essential micronutrients were mandated in 2018.
The World Food Prize Foundation recently honored Dr. Mahalingam Govindaraj, with the prestigious 2022 Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, generously endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation.
Honored with the esteemed Global Innovation Award, this visionary reshaped the innovation landscape through groundbreaking contributions to science and technology.
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