Srinagar: Manzoor Dar, Head of Seed Systems at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), has been named one of the 2025 Top Agri-Food Pioneers (TAP) by the prestigious World Food Prize Foundation. The recognition places Mr Dar among a select group of global changemakers leading transformative work in agriculture and food systems.
The announcement was made as part of the Foundation’s annual campaign to honour individuals whose innovations and leadership have had measurable impact on sustainable food security and agri-food system transformation across the globe. The 2025 TAP cohort includes researchers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and community leaders from diverse geographies and disciplines.
Mr Manzoor, a native of Kashmir, currently leads ICRISAT’s global seed systems initiatives. Before joining ICRISAT, he served as Cluster Leader for Seed Systems and Germplasm Evaluation at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), where he played a key role in enhancing varietal adoption and strengthening seed value chains across Asia and Africa.
With over two decades of experience, Mr Manzoor’s work has focused on improving farmer access to quality seeds, promoting agrobiodiversity and bridging science and policy to enable inclusive agricultural innovation. His leadership in designing participatory seed systems and scaling climate-resilient varieties has benefited millions of smallholder farmers.
Speaking to Ziraat Times on the occasion, Mr Manzoor said, “This recognition is not just personal—it reflects the collective efforts of the global agricultural research community working to make food systems more equitable, resilient, and sustainable. It’s also a tribute to the farmers we work with who are the real changemakers.”
The Top Agri-Food Pioneers initiative is part of the World Food Prize Foundation’s commitment to spotlight and support individuals making significant contributions to ending hunger and malnutrition. Past honorees have gone on to play influential roles in policy, research, innovation, and grassroots mobilization.
