The National Association for Plant Breeding (NAPB) has announced its awardees for outstanding accomplishments in five categories: Early Career Scientist, Lifetime Achievement, Public Sector Impact, Private Sector Impact, and a new award, Plant Breeding Educator.
The 2025 NAPB awardees exemplify the very best in plant breeding research, education, outreach, and leadership. They model persistent dedication and a passionate devotion to applying their plant breeding skills and technical excellence to promote food security, quality of life, and economic resiliency for a sustainable future. They are committed to supporting the next generation of the plant breeding discipline. These outstanding professionals inspire plant breeders and scientists everywhere. The awardees are as follows:
- Early Career Scientist Award: Dr. Zachary Jones, Corteva Agriscience
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Mark E. Sorrells, Cornell University
- Public Sector Impact Award: Dr. Istvan Rajcan, University of Guelph
- Private Sector Impact Award: Dr. Mark J. Messmer, CoverCress Inc.
- Plant Breeding Educator Award: Dr. Tabare Abadie, Corteva Agriscience
Awards were announced at the NAPB annual conference, being hosted by the University of Hawai’i in Kona from May 19-23. The meeting attracted around 340 participants, including 150 students, and features technical and scientific presentations, interactive workshops, and local tours. It also includes a meeting of the Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee (PBCC).
All five awardees are invited to deliver talks at the next annual NAPB meeting, June 8-13, 2026, hosted by Texas A&M University, College Station.
