National Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Dr. Abdelbagi M. Ismail
FOREIGN FELLOW, ELECTED 2019

Born in Eldaba, Northern Province, Sudan, on May 1st, 1958. Educated at University of Khartoum, Sudan, BSC, 1982; and MSc, 1987; and University of California, Riverside, Ph.D., 1992.

Regional Director for Africa, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) 2017 to date.

Head, Genetics and Biotechnology Division, IRRI, 01/2017 - 08/2017; Deputy Director General- Research (Interim), IRRI, 12/2015 - 03/2016; Principal Scientist, Plant Physiologist, IRRI, 2011 - present, Scientist - Senior Scientist, IRRI, 2000-2011; Postgraduate/plant physiologist, University of California, Riverside, 1992-2000.

Awards/Honours: Fellow, American Society of Agronomy (ASA), 2023; Recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) David and Betty Hamburg award for Science Diplomacy, 2023. Certificate of Appreciation for inspiring leadership and strong support for the accelerated development of high yielding rice varieties suitable for Cambodia, 2017, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kingdom of Cambodia; Merit Medal "For the cause of Science and Technology development of Vietnam, 2010, Government of Vietnam; Gold medal "Contribution to Agriculture Development", Government of Vietnam, 2007; CGIAR Best Paper Award, 2007; Crop Science Society of the Philippines Best Paper Awards, 2008; 2009.

Fellow: Member, American Society of Plant Biologists; Member, Research, Variety Development and Seed Production Working Group (RVDSP-WG) - African Seed Biotechnology Platform, African Union Commission (AUC); Member, Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), American Society of Agronomy (ASA); American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), International Society for Plant Anaerobiosis (ISPA), and Executive Committee member 2004-present.

Research Areas: Environmental Plant Physiology, Stress Physiology, Molecular Biology and breeding

Address: Principal Scientist, (IRRI) Director, IRRI-Africa, C/o International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; [Tel: Off. +254 20 4223634; Cell: +254 748812506; Fax: +254-20 422 3001; Email: a.ismail@irri.org]