The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has named Dr. Karimbhai M. Maredia, professor, associate dean and director of the World Agriculture Center at Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), as the 2026 recipient of the Borlaug CAST Communication Award (BCCA). The award will be presented at a ceremony on Dec. 10, 2026, at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
The BCCA recognizes a scientist who has effectively communicated agricultural science and technology issues to a non-technical audience. The award is named in honor of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the father of the Green Revolution.
A son of a dairy farmer, Dr. Maredia was born in a small village in Gujarat, India. He joined MSU in 1989 - having previously worked as a research scientist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico - and has spent more than 35 years building one of the most far-reaching science communication programs in international agriculture. As director of WorldTAP - the World Knowledge and Technology Access Program - he has traveled to more than 60 countries, disseminating knowledge, information and new technologies to the global agricultural community.
His scholarly output spans 130 papers, policy briefs and book chapters, and eight co-edited books on integrated pest management, technology transfer and agricultural extension. His work has been supported by USAID, USDA, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation, Winrock International and the Gates Foundation.
“The Borlaug CAST Communication Award exists for scientists like Karim Maredia - people who believe that research only fulfills its promise when it reaches the people it was meant to serve. His career is a masterclass in what science communication looks like when it is done right, at scale, and across borders. We are honored to recognize him,” said Chris Boomsma, CAST CEO.
“Dr. Maredia is an esteemed pillar of the international agricultural community, and this high honor recognizes an extraordinary career spent in service of farmers and scientists across the globe,” said Matthew Daum, Ph.D., associate provost and dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University. “He works tirelessly - and with characteristic humility - to bring top-notch agricultural research to the world, and we’re very proud to call him a Spartan.”
“It is a great honor and deeply humbling to receive this prestigious award,” Dr. Maredia said. “The award celebrates not only my individual efforts but also the enduring power of partnerships, collaborations, and shared vision across national and international boundaries. It reflects our shared commitment to advancing science, technology, and innovation toward a food-secure world, while recognizing the vital role of effective communication in connecting science with society. I am very grateful to my dedicated colleagues, partners, and collaborators whose collective efforts have made this journey both meaningful and rewarding.”
“He exemplifies the spirit of Dr. Borlaug by ensuring that scientific knowledge does not remain confined to laboratories and academic journals but reaches the people who will use it to improve lives and livelihoods. His vision of ‘science without borders’ has empowered thousands of scientists, policymakers, farmers, and other professionals to help build a better world,” said Russell Freed, professor emeritus of plant, soil and microbial sciences at Michigan State University and nominator of Dr. Maredia for the 2026 BCCA.
Dr. Maredia serves on the African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies, a position he has held since 2017. He was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) of India in 2023 and currently serves as its Foreign Secretary. In 2025, he was elected Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) in Nairobi, Kenya. He received an honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa) from the University of Ricardo Palma in Lima, Peru, in 2009.
About the Award
The Borlaug CAST Communication Award is presented annually by CAST to a scientist who has shown exceptional ability to communicate complex agricultural science and technology to non-technical audiences. It is named in honor of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, who accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on Dec. 10, 1970 - the date commemorated by the annual BCCA ceremony.