Surinder Kumar Vasal
A maize scientist who co-won the 2000 World Food Prize for developing protein-rich maize, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.
Surinder Kumar Vasal helped develop maize with more and better protein, a breakthrough for people who depend on maize for food. In 2025 he was named for the Padma Shri in the field of science and engineering, from Delhi [1].
From Amritsar to Mexico
Vasal was born on 12 April 1938 and grew up in Amritsar [2]. He earned his PhD from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi and began as a maize botanist in Himachal Pradesh [2]. In 1967 he joined the Rockefeller Foundation’s programme in Thailand, where he helped develop Suwan-1, still a widely grown maize variety [2].
In 1970 he moved to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico [2]. There he developed Quality Protein Maize varieties suited to many growing conditions, and led work that released more than 200 maize lines to breeders worldwide [2]. In 1997 he became CIMMYT’s first Distinguished Scientist and led its Asian maize programme from Thailand [2].
The World Food Prize
With Evangelina Villegas, he won the 2000 World Food Prize [2]. He has published about 150 research papers [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2025: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2025: citation for Surinder Kumar Vasal — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 12 October 2026.
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