The UC Davis researcher’s work has helped breeding programs develop wheat varieties with improved yield, disease resistance and adaptation to changing growing conditions.
Jorge Dubcovsky, a wheat geneticist at the University of California, Davis, has been named the 2026 World Agriculture Prize Laureate in the category for countries with developed economies.
The award recognizes his contributions to wheat improvement and global food security. It is presented by the Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for the Agricultural and Life Sciences, known as GCHERA.
Dubcovsky is a distinguished professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute researcher, according to a press release.
Turning Genetic Discoveries Into Improved Varieties
For more than three decades, Dubcovsky’s research has advanced understanding of wheat biology and helped breeding programs apply genomic tools to crop improvement.
His work has identified and characterized genes controlling yield, disease resistance, flowering time, nutrient use efficiency and adaptation to different growing environments. Those discoveries have contributed to improved wheat varieties grown on millions of hectares worldwide.
“The World Agriculture Prize recognizes individuals whose achievements have had a profound and lasting impact on global agriculture and human well-being,” said Doug Steele, chair of the World Agriculture Prize International Committee. “Dubcovsky’s scientific leadership and extraordinary contributions to wheat genetics have strengthened the resilience of one of the world’s most important food crops and have delivered tangible benefits to farmers, food systems and society. His work exemplifies the innovation, excellence, and global impact that the prize seeks to honor.”
Collaboration Across Breeding Programs
Dubcovsky has worked with researchers, breeding institutions, governments and international agricultural organizations to move wheat discoveries into practical use. He has also mentored plant scientists and breeders who continue to contribute to crop research and development.
The World Agriculture Prize recognizes contributions to agriculture and food security through research, innovation, leadership and service. GCHERA also recognizes scientists from countries not classified as having developed economies.
Dubcovsky will be formally honored Oct. 28 at the 2026 World Agriculture Prize Award Ceremony at Nanjing Agricultural University in China.
