Globally acclaimed agricultural scientist Shri Surinder Kumar Vasal has been honored with the prestigious Padma Shri award for his pioneering contributions to Science and Engineering, particularly in the development of high-yield, nutritious maize varieties that have enhanced global food security.
A key figure behind the revolutionary Quality Protein Maize (QPM), Shri Vasal’s research has significantly impacted malnutrition reduction, especially in developing countries, by improving the nutritional profile of maize — a staple food for millions.
As a senior scientist with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico, Shri Vasal, alongside Dr. Evangelina Villegas, developed QPM in the 1990s — a genetically enhanced maize variety with higher levels of lysine and tryptophan, essential amino acids lacking in conventional maize.
This innovation won them the World Food Prize in 2000, and the maize is now widely grown across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, helping combat protein deficiency.
“Science must serve humanity, especially the most vulnerable,” Shri Vasal said in an earlier interview, underscoring his commitment to inclusive agricultural development.
Shri Vasal’s work has not only advanced the field of agricultural genetics but also influenced global food policy, sustainable farming, and rural nutrition programs. His Padma Shri is a recognition of his scientific excellence, humanitarian vision, and lasting global legacy.
In honoring Shri Surinder Kumar Vasal, India salutes a visionary scientist whose innovations have nourished nations and empowered farmers, proving that science, when rooted in purpose, can change the world.
