Get $10,000 for On the Ground Agricultural Impact: Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application 2026

If you’re a hands-on agricultural practitioner — the person up to your elbows in soil, seed, or small-scale food processing, working directly with farmers, herders, or fishers — this is the kind of recognition that reads like a validation and a megaphone at once. The Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application spotlights young leaders under 40 who are producing measurable gains in food production, nutrition, and rural livelihoods. The prize carries a $10,000 award and a chance to be celebrated during World Food Prize Week in Des Moines around World Food Day (October 16).

This award is not for armchair theorists or lab-only scientists. It honors people who get messy in the field — testing practices, training farmers, improving processing or distribution, and delivering concrete increases in food availability or quality. Think of it as a trophy for the applied scientist and the practical innovator: the person who translates research into more food on the table for real communities.

If you or someone you know fits that mold — especially leaders working in Africa (this tag appears frequently among past nominees) or other regions with pressing food security needs — read on. I’ll walk you through who should apply, what the award actually offers, the exact materials you’ll need, how to shape a nomination that sings, and a realistic timeline so you don’t scramble at the last minute.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

The award provides more than the cash. The $10,000 prize is the headline, but the real value comes from exposure and credibility. Winners are presented during World Food Prize Week — a global convening of policymakers, researchers, donors, and practitioners. That stage can open doors: invitations to speak, introductions to potential funders and partners, and heightened visibility for scaling a proven approach.

Beyond recognition, the award affirms work that produces demonstrable change — measured increases in production, nutrition improvements, reduced postharvest losses, or expanded incomes for rural households. The Borlaug award tradition centers on science-informed application: not just good intentions but documented outcomes achieved through rigorous methods adapted to the realities of smallholder life.

The ceremony in Des Moines is also a networking goldmine. Past winners have used the event to recruit collaborators, secure follow-on funding, and influence policy conversations back home. For a young practitioner, that single week can accelerate momentum already building in the field.

Finally, the award is symbolic: it aligns your work with Norman Borlaug’s legacy of persistent, practical problem-solving in agriculture. That historical association matters when you’re asking governments, NGOs, or foundations to take a risk on scaling what you’ve demonstrated.

Who Should Apply

This award is tailored for individuals who are actively engaged “in the dirt” — extension agents, plant breeders who run trials with farmers, livestock development officers working with pastoral communities, small-scale processors improving food safety and shelf life, or fishermen introducing sustainable postharvest practices. The key is direct, demonstrable impact on production or nutrition at the community level.

Examples:

• An agronomist in Kenya who collaborated with 500 smallholders to test drought-tolerant maize hybrids and documented a 25% average yield increase across five seasons.
• A Tanzanian animal health technician who introduced low-cost vaccination and record-keeping systems that cut mortality rates in village poultry flocks by half.
• A Ghanaian entrepreneur who developed a solar-powered drying rack and training package that reduced cassava postharvest losses and increased household incomes.
• A fisheries extension worker in Senegal who co-designed cold-chain solutions with fishers, increasing marketable catch and improving household nutrition.

Eligibility specifics matter. Nominees must be under 40 on World Food Day (October 16) of the award year. You must be actively working in the projects or roles for which you’re being nominated; retired or purely academic applicants whose work doesn’t include direct field engagement won’t fit this award’s intent. Although many nominees are associated with non-profits, universities, or government programs, affiliation is secondary to proof of on-the-ground results and leadership.

The award is generally given to one individual, not teams, though the jury may exceptionally split the prize when two people have deeply collaborative, inseparable contributions. If your work is part of a larger team, the nomination should make it crystal clear what you personally led and accomplished.

Nomination Overview and Required Materials

This is a nomination-driven prize — you need a complete package, not an online quiz.

Major required materials include:

• A concise statement (up to 3,000 words) describing the nominee’s work, accomplishments, and impact. This should specifically address the award criteria — persistence, practical innovation, effective communication with communities, scientific rigor, extension and education, leadership, and measurable impact.
• Nominee’s Curriculum Vitae or résumé that includes date of birth, country of origin, education, and professional experience. The jury needs the DOB to check the under-40 rule.
• One (1) formal nomination letter and no more than two (2) letters of support. These letters should provide clear, concrete examples of the nominee’s achievements and the nominee’s role in delivering those outcomes.
• A professional headshot (300 dpi minimum) and up to two action photos showing the nominee at work with farmers or communities. Include captions and photo credits; confirm permissions to use images publicly.

Preparation advice: write the 3,000-word statement with the jury reading in mind. Use short, evidence-backed sections: What was the problem? What intervention did the nominee design or apply? What methods were used? What are the results — with numbers? How did the nominee train, empower, and adapt approaches with local people? Where possible, include simple metrics (tons/ha, percent increase in income, reduction in postharvest loss, number of trainees, geographic spread).

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

1. Tell the story with numbers and faces. Data proves the result; photos prove the reality. Pair a clear metric (e.g., “yield increased 30% across 420 households over three seasons”) with a concise vignette of a specific family or farmer who benefited.

2. Show the process, not just the outcome. The jury wants to see how you worked with communities: trial design, local testing, adaptation, and training. Describe roadblocks and how you changed course — that demonstrates the persistence the award values.

3. Use plain language. Jurors come from varied backgrounds. Avoid dense technical jargon. Write as if you’re explaining the project to a smart generalist who cares about impact.

4. Choose letter writers strategically. Your nominator should be able to contextualize the work and assert its significance. Support letters should fill gaps — one might be from a community leader confirming adoption; another from a technical partner confirming methodology and results. Generic praise is weak. Specific, independently verifiable claims are strong.

5. Quantify sustainability and scalability. Judges want to know whether the approach is likely to persist without external hand-holding and whether it can be expanded. Describe costs, training needs, and institutional partners that could support scale-up.

6. Document community involvement and consent. If you include photos or personal stories, state that the community granted permission. Describe how beneficiaries were involved in designing or adapting the solution.

7. Polish the presentation. This is a competitive prize. Submit a clean, well-edited packet: consistent formatting, correct dates, and checked photo resolutions. Typos and sloppy organization suggest carelessness.

Each of the above tips matters when applications are competing on similar merits. Where two candidates have comparable outcomes, presentation and clarity can tilt the decision.

Application Timeline (Work Backwards from June 1, 2026)

Start early — six to eight weeks is realistic if you already have results documented; more time is better.

• 8 weeks before deadline (mid-April): Identify a nominator and potential support letter writers. Share a project summary and preliminary data. Reserve time for their schedules.
• 6 weeks before (late April): Draft the 3,000-word statement and CV. Gather photos and captions. Request letters formally, giving writers clear guidance and a deadline.
• 4 weeks before (early May): Circulate the draft statement for review — ask one technical colleague, one non-specialist reader, and your nominator to review. Incorporate edits.
• 2 weeks before (mid-May): Finalize letters of support, confirm photo permissions, and check file specifications (resolution, formats). Ensure the DOB is recorded correctly on the CV.
• 1 week before (late May): Run a final packet check. Verify the submission portal is functioning. Submit at least 48–72 hours early to avoid last-minute technical issues.
• Post-deadline: Expect notification timelines to vary; winners are announced and presented during World Food Prize Week in October. Confirm travel and participation logistics once notified.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Standout submissions connect rigorous evidence to lived results. The jury values a mix of scientific credibility and boots-on-the-ground tenacity. Applications that rise to the top typically show:

• Clear, replicable outcomes: measured increases in productivity, reductions in losses, improved nutritional indicators, or increased incomes. Raw claims without data won’t impress.
• Cost-effectiveness: programs that deliver improvements at reasonable cost per beneficiary.
• Community uptake: evidence that local farmers adopted and continued the practices after initial trials.
• Capacity building: training materials, workshops, and a plan that leaves local actors better equipped.
• Cross-cultural competence: examples of adapting methods to local norms, languages, and constraints.
• Leadership and mentorship: the nominee has inspired peers, trained extension workers, or built local networks.

Importantly, the jury looks for the combination of intellectual courage (trying and testing new solutions) and persistence in the face of constraints — whether supply chain disruption, climatic shocks, or institutional resistance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Submitting vague letters. Letters that simply praise the nominee without specific examples are wasted. Ask letter writers to cite precise achievements and their direct knowledge of the nominee’s role.

2. Over-relying on technical jargon. If the impact can’t be explained in clear language, the jury may miss your point. Explain technical terms briefly the first time you use them.

3. Ignoring photo permissions. Submitting photos without documented permission from subjects can create legal and ethical problems. Get written consent and note it in the packet.

4. Missing the age check. Failing to include a birthdate or miscalculating the nominee’s age on World Food Day is an easy disqualifier. Double-check the DOB and the Oct 16 cutoff.

5. Waiting until the last minute. Portal problems or late letters of support are frequent reasons strong nominations fall apart. Submit early and confirm receipt.

6. Failing to quantify results. Saying “production improved” is weak. Provide numbers, timeframes, and sample sizes.

Fix these before submission and you’ll dramatically increase your odds of being taken seriously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can the nominee be from any country? A: Yes. The award recognizes work anywhere in international agriculture and food production. Many past nominees and winners have been working in Africa, but the prize is not limited geographically.

Q: Do nominees have to be affiliated with an institution? A: No. Many nominees are affiliated with universities, NGOs, or government agencies, but the crucial factor is active, demonstrable field work. Independent practitioners who have documented impact are also eligible.

Q: Can someone nominate themselves? A: The award requires a nomination package; policies on self-nomination can vary. To be safe, check the official submission guidelines or contact the program administrators for clarification. If self-nomination is permitted, ensure the nomination letter comes from a credible third party.

Q: Is the award ever shared? A: The prize is typically presented to a single person. In rare situations where achievements are inseparable between collaborators, the jury may recognize multiple individuals.

Q: Will the award cover travel to the ceremony? A: The prize includes $10,000 and a presentation at World Food Prize Week. Travel or accommodation support is not explicitly guaranteed in the nomination materials; confirm current details on the official site or with program staff.

Q: What happens if the nominee is not selected this year? A: Nominees can remain in consideration beyond the nomination year at the jury’s discretion, provided they still meet the age and criteria requirements.

Q: How much detail should the letters of support provide? A: Specific examples, independent verification of outcomes, and the letter-writer’s relationship to the nominee are crucial. Generic endorsements won’t help.

Next Steps — How to Apply

Ready to prepare a strong nomination? Start by gathering your evidence: clear metrics, photos with permissions, and contacts for your nominator and two supporters. Draft the 3,000-word statement early and ask for feedback from someone outside your specialization — if they nod and understand the significance, you’re on the right track.

When your packet is ready, submit through the official portal. The application page is here: https://my.reviewr.com/s2/site/borlaugfieldaward

Before you hit submit:

• Confirm the nominee’s date of birth and add it to the CV.
• Verify photo resolution (300 dpi for the headshot).
• Limit letters of support to no more than two, plus the single nomination letter.
• Save copies of all materials in uneditable formats (PDF preferred) and keep confirmation receipts.

If you have questions about whether a specific project fits or about the nomination process, reach out to the World Food Prize Foundation through the contact information on the official page. They can clarify procedural details and confirm whether self-nominations are accepted for the current cycle.

Good luck — and if you’re working with farmers right now, know this: persistence and clear effects win attention. Get your evidence in order, tell the story plainly, and let your results speak for the community you serve.

Apply Now

Ready to apply? Visit the official nomination portal and guidelines: https://my.reviewr.com/s2/site/borlaugfieldaward

Questions about preparing your nomination? The official site is the authoritative source; contact details are available there for submission and eligibility queries.