The Award Ceremony of the 10th GCHERA World Agriculture Prize was recently held at Nanjing Agricultural University. More than 300 representatives from universities, research institutions, and industries across 25 countries gathered in Nanjing to exchange ideas on global agricultural innovation. Professor Jorge Dubcovsky of the University of California, Davis, and Professor Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov from Uzbekistan received the honor for their breakthrough research on wheat and cotton genomics. Each winner was awarded a $100,000 cash prize.
Dubcovsky has devoted more than 30 years to wheat genetics. His work has supported the improvement of over 600 wheat varieties, which cover roughly 60% of U.S. wheat acreage. He is a strong advocate for open science and the global sharing of germplasm and research tools. Elected a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2025, Abdurakhmonov developed the commercially viable RNAi cotton line Porloq. Widely adopted, the variety raises crop yields and lifts farmers’ incomes. He also founded Central Asia’s first genomics research center.
Launched by Nanjing Agricultural University in 2012 under the GCHERA framework, the prize first recognized outstanding scientists in 2013. Fourteen leading researchers worldwide have won the award to date, making it a signature international showcase of Nanjing for agricultural education and research.
Nanjing Agricultural University notes that addressing global food security demands open, collaborative innovation. Beyond recognizing scientific excellence, the prize embodies a shared mission to advance science for the common good.
At the ceremony, current and former laureates, together with international experts, unveiled the full text of “Nanjing Consensus: Advancing Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation through Agricultural Education, Research and Innovation over the Next Decade.” It sets out action priorities across five key areas in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The event also hosted annual meetings of the China-ASEAN Agricultural Education and Research Alliance (CIAERA) and its Asia Hub. Building on these Nanjing-initiated international platforms, the city will continue to strengthen its global science and technology cooperation network, mobilize global agricultural innovation resources, and serve as a hub for international agri-science collaboration.
Launched by Nanjing Agricultural University in 2012 under the GCHERA framework, the prize first recognized outstanding scientists in 2013. Fourteen leading researchers worldwide have won the award to date, making it a signature international showcase of Nanjing for agricultural education and research.
Nanjing Agricultural University notes that addressing global food security demands open, collaborative innovation. Beyond recognizing scientific excellence, the prize embodies a shared mission to advance science for the common good.
At the ceremony, current and former laureates, together with international experts, unveiled the full text of “Nanjing Consensus: Advancing Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation through Agricultural Education, Research and Innovation over the Next Decade.” It sets out action priorities across five key areas in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The event also hosted annual meetings of the China-ASEAN Agricultural Education and Research Alliance (CIAERA) and its Asia Hub. Building on these Nanjing-initiated international platforms, the city will continue to strengthen its global science and technology cooperation network, mobilize global agricultural innovation resources, and serve as a hub for international agri-science collaboration. 
