Swati Nayak
2023 Borlaug Field Award Recipient and Scientist, CGIAR International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
Dr. Swati Nayak is an agriculture scientist affiliated with the Phillipines based CGIAR International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). She is also the 2023 Borlaug Field Award recipient from the World Food Prize Foundation. Dr. Nayak currently serves as the South Asia Lead for Seed Systems at IRRI and also holds the global leadership position for cereal seed system group within the CGIAR initiative Seed Equal under the Genetic Innovation Science Group.
Dr. Nayak is an expert in devising and executing research and strategies around programmes focused on scaling, on-field adaptation, inclusive access and adoption of various innovations in agriculture Research for development. Her work around creating robust scaling models and efforts around promising genetic innovations including climate-resilient, nutrition-rich crops, varieties and quality seeds for smallholder farmers are well recognized globally. Her market and demand driven approaches, strongly integrate the targeted action towards social and gender equity, food and nutrition security, better livelihood options for last-mile stakeholders. In her scaling research and practices, she is known for high level prioritization towards the preferences of end-users (farmers, consumers), gendered choices and community participation. Her intensive engagement with women farmers and community institutions in participatory technology evaluation, scaling, seed and agri- enterprise development has triggered significant change on ground. She is known for establishing a strong product management strategy focusing on varietal scaling and adoption in Asia and also supporting the South-South learning by replicating and scaling some of the innovations in Africa.