2025 Borlaug Field Award Recipient and Senior Scientist at World Vegetable Center

Dr. Derek Barchenger is a global leader in vegetable breeding and seed systems, serving as a Senior Scientist at the World Vegetable Center. He has co-developed and co-released more than two dozen improved chili pepper varieties that are now grown by hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers across Asia and Africa. His work integrates molecular breeding, genomics and phenomics, demand-driven variety development and public–private partnerships to deliver climate-resilient, disease-resistant and nutrient-rich peppers that strengthen food security and farmer livelihoods.

Dr. Barchenger is the 2025 Recipient of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, recognizing his transformative contributions to global agriculture. He is deeply committed to ensuring that innovative science reaches the field, empowering farmers to adapt to climate change and improve their socioeconomic mobility.