National Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Dr. Boddupalli Maruthi Prasanna
FELLOW, ELECTED 2009

Born in Bapatla, Guntur, India, on 31 August 1965. Educated at Ravi College, Guntur, 1972-79; J.K.C. College, Guntur, 1979-81; Agricultural College, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, 1981-85; Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, 1985-91; B.Sc. 1985; M.Sc. 1987; Ph.D. 1991.

CIMMYT Regional Director for Asia & Managing Director, Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA).

Scientist, 1991-1996; Scientist (Senior Scale) 1996-2000; Senior Scientist, 2000-08; ICAR National Fellow, 2005-10, and Principal Scientist, 2008-10, Division of Genetics, IARI, New Delhi. Director, CGIAR Research Program MAIZE, 2015-2021; CGIAR Plant Health Initiative Leader, 2022-2024; Director, Global Maize Program, CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center), Nairobi, Kenya, 2010-2024.

Awards/Honours: FAO Fellowship at University of California, Berkeley, USA, 1998; ISCA Dr. B.C. Deb Memorial Award, 2001; ISGPB Dr. Joginder Singh Memorial Award, 2001-02; IARI Best Teacher Award, 2004; ICAR National Fellowship, 2005-2010; NAAS Associateship, 2005; IARI Dr. B.P. Pal Memorial Award, 2007; Member, Scientific Advisory Committee of the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad, 2006-2007; Member, Extant Variety Recommendation Committee (EVRC) under the PPV&FRA, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, 2007-2010; Member, Committee for Mid-term Review of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), constituted by the Planning Commission, Govt. of India, 2009; Member, Board of Directors of QualiBasic Seed Company (QBS), since 2016; Member, International Advisory Committee of Huazhong Agricultural University, China, since 2022; CIMMYT Distinguished Scientist,since 2024;Magnolia Memorial Award of Shanghai Government, People’s Republic of China, 2024; TAAS Dr MS Swaminathan Award for Leadership in Agriculture, 2024; First Foundation Day Lecture of Dr JV Goud Education and Research Foundation. UAS-Dharwad, 2025; Top Agrifood Pioneer Award by the World Food Prize Foundation, 2025; International Crop Science Research Award by the Crop Science Society of America, 2025.

Fellow: Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding

Research Areas: Maize genetics, breeding, and seed systems in Africa, Asia and Latin America

Address: Managing Director, BISA, CIMMYT Distinguished Scientist & Regional Director for Asia, G2, B Block, NASC Complex, Dev Prakash Shastri Marg, New Delhi 110012; EC33, Upper Ground Floor, Inderpuri, New Delhi 110012; [Tel: Cell: 9717496805, 9540293287; Email: b.m.prasanna@cgiar.org; bmprasanna@gmail.com]

NAAS Associate, 2005