NAAS at the Borlaug Dialogue; Indian Student Wins Global Youth Institute Award

Why in the News

The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi, participated in the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue (a World Food Prize Foundation programme) held on 20-22 October 2026 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, on the theme "Before Hunger Wins" (PIB, 23 October 2026).

Key Points

• The Academy set up an exhibition stall of NAAS and ICAR publications.
• Seven Indian school students selected through the NAAS-YUVA selection campaign presented research papers on food security at the Global Youth Institute (GYI); Ameena Nazrin A.S. received the GYI award of $500.
• In the round-table discussion on agricultural higher education, NAAS President and ICAR Director-General Dr M.L. Jat emphasised moving beyond production-centric agriculture to an integrated agri-food system and value-chain approach.
• An MoU on cooperation was signed between NAAS and the US Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST).

Institutional Background

The World Food Prize is given for contributions to food security in memory of Norman Borlaug (father of the Green Revolution, Nobel Peace Prize 1970); the Borlaug Dialogue is the annual forum of this tradition. NAAS is India's apex academy of agricultural sciences, linked to the ICAR-DARE framework.

Context and Detailed Explanation

The identity of the Borlaug Dialogue is tied to its name: Norman Borlaug is the father of the Green Revolution and the winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize; the World Food Prize is given in his memory for contributions to food security, and this Dialogue is the annual forum of that tradition. The 2026 Dialogue was held on 20-22 October in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, on the theme "Before Hunger Wins" - both the venue and the theme are Prelims facts.

Indian participation has three parts: first, NAAS set up an exhibition stall of its own and ICAR publications; second, seven school students selected through the NAAS-YUVA selection campaign presented research papers on food security at the Global Youth Institute (GYI), and Ameena Nazrin A.S. received the $500 GYI award; third, NAAS President and ICAR Director-General Dr M.L. Jat, at the round table on agricultural higher education, emphasised moving beyond production-centric agriculture to an integrated agri-food system and value-chain approach. During the same visit, an MoU on cooperation was signed between NAAS and the US Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST).

Keep the institutional chain clear: NAAS (National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi) is the apex academy of agricultural sciences and is linked to the ICAR-DARE framework - this chain can be asked in match-the-following options.

From the Examination Point of View

World Food Prize/Borlaug Dialogue, the NAAS-ICAR-DARE institutional chain, GYI (Prelims fact questions).

Prelims Practice Questions

Sources and Limitations

• PIB (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare), 23 October 2026 (read; event, award, MoU): https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2327138