The World Food Prize Foundation has announced Derek Barchenger, Senior Scientist and head of the Global Pepper Breeding Program at the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), has been named the 2025 Recipient of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation.
Barchenger is recognized for his innovative leadership in the advancement of pepper breeding, improving productivity and resilience for hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers by developing improved varieties, breeding strategies and positioning pepper as a priority crop on the agendas of public and private organizations worldwide.
Over 41 million tonnes of peppers are produced annually, mostly by smallholder farmers who rely on the crop not only for income but also as a critical source of essential micronutrients, including vitamin C and provitamin A. Barchenger has made it his life's work to improve the productivity and climate resilience of the diverse Capsicum species, which include bell and chili peppers.
"Receiving the Borlaug Field Award is an incredible honor and it affirms the power of science when it's rooted in the field," said Barchenger. "For millions of farmers, pepper is everything—an income, a tradition and a future. It's an unsung hero of urban and rural livelihoods, nutrition and resilient food systems. I'm extremely proud of the improved pepper varieties we've developed, tested and shared, and I'm equally proud of the WorldVeg team and the global network that has helped make it all possible."
Barchenger's accomplishments are deeply rooted in a life of purpose and scientific curiosity. Raised on a family farm in Oklahoma, he was captivated by the diversity of peppers growing in the garden—an early fascination that shaped his professional journey. This deep interest was further amplified during Barchenger's doctoral studies in the Southwestern U.S., where he learned about the cultural importance of chili peppers—from their spiritual significance to their historical use as currency. When the opportunity came for him to dedicate his research to this remarkable crop, he leapt at the chance.
Barchenger's passion for solving the increasing challenges facing pepper growers—diseases, rising temperatures and changes in climate which threaten yields and quality—led him to the World Vegetable Center. He joined WorldVeg in 2016 as a United States Borlaug Fellow in Global Food Security, later becoming a postdoctoral fellow in 2017 and quickly rising to lead the global pepper breeding program at WorldVeg in 2018.
"Derek Barchenger's journey, from an Oklahoma farm to leading global innovations in pepper breeding, is a testament to what's possible when passion meets purpose," said Mashal Husain, President, World Food Prize Foundation. "His work empowers smallholder farmers, strengthens food systems and breathes new life into a crop that sustains cultures and economies alike. In honoring Derek with the Borlaug Field Award, we celebrate not just a scientist, but a changemaker whose impact will be felt for generations."
Barchenger has built partnerships with dozens of seed companies to release WorldVeg varieties bred to withstand climate extremes as well as pest and disease pressures. Under his leadership, WorldVeg has released 24 new pepper varieties since 2018. They also release 12 new pepper germplasm lines annually to consortiums in Africa and Asia—lines now used by more than 50 seed companies. In 2024, those companies reported sales of 20 tonnes of pepper seed containing WorldVeg lines, enough to reach 300,000 farmers.
"Derek Barchenger embodies the enduring spirit of Dr. Norman Borlaug—using science in service of humanity," said Thomas Vilsack, CEO, World Food Prize Foundation. "Through his groundbreaking work in pepper breeding, he has uplifted the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers and brought resilience to a vegetable that nourishes both people and cultures. His leadership reminds us that innovation in the field can be a powerful force for global food and nutrition security. We are proud to honor him with the 2025 Borlaug Field Award."
These advancements have established Barchenger as a global leader in his field, and in 2022 he was appointed by the Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (AFACI) of Korea to lead a major regional project providing farmers in 14 Asian countries with vegetable breeding lines, advice and training. After just three years, almost all participants have produced lines ready for release. He also played a pivotal role with the Global Crop Diversity Trust in developing the Global Capsicum Conservation Strategy, a worldwide effort to safeguard pepper diversity and strengthen its use.
Barchenger has elevated the relevance of pepper breeding and science across the entire value chain, from genetics and seeds to production, markets and consumers. He has helped position pepper as a priority crop on the agendas of public and private organizations worldwide. His work exemplifies the potential of demand-driven vegetable crop improvement to enhance nutrition, increase climate resilience and create opportunities for smallholder farmers around the globe.
Established in 2011 with a generous endowment by The Rockefeller Foundation, the $10,000 Borlaug Field Award is presented annually to a young scientist under the age of 40 who best emulates the characteristics demonstrated by Dr. Borlaug while developing miracle wheat in Mexico. This year the Foundation is honored to celebrate fourteen years of partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation, elevating the work of young scientists around the world.
Source: World Food Prize Foundation
