Ames, Iowa, USA
June 29, 2023
Former SSC director Manjit Misra (center) receives the Seed Science Foundation Excellence in Science Award during the ASTA Leadership Summit in Sacramento, CA. He is joined in the awarding ceremonies by SSC research scientist and IT chief Yuh-Yuan Shyy (left) and Tess Howard, manager of customer relations at Iowa State’s Seed Lab.
Manjit Misra, former director of the Seed Science Center (SSC) at Iowa State University (ISU), was presented the Excellence in Science Award by the Seed Science Foundation in ceremonies held during the Leadership Summit of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) in Sacramento, CA on June 12. The recognition dovetails Misra’s recent appointment as director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the USDA arm that provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences.
ASTA’s Seed Science Foundation addresses seed and plant science challenges and encourages plant breeding education and seed research in support of the changing needs of the global seed industry. The award recognizes public or private researchers whose outstanding accomplishments have had an impact in the areas of breeding systems, seed quality, seed production and technology, seed health and pathology, digital agriculture, or seed applied technology.
“This recognition means a great deal to me,” Misra said. “Seeds are the foundation of agriculture, and agriculture undergirds civilization and all life. I’m so proud to accept this on behalf of my colleagues at the Seed Science Center at Iowa State. Through their hard work, SSC has become a premier center of seed science, technology and systems that provides service across the globe. I am extremely proud to have been a part of that.”
While serving as SSC director, Misra was appointed chair of the USDA National Genetic Resources Advisory Council (NGRAC) for two terms by the Secretary of Agriculture. He served on over 60 local, national, and international boards and committees. These include the steering committee for the Food and Agriculture Organization’s International Conference on Biotechnology; the Scientific Advisory Council of the American Seed Research Foundation; the board of directors of the Iowa Seed Association, the Iowa Crop Improvement Association, and the First the Seed Foundation.
During his tenure as SSC director, the Center’s faculty and staff conducted seed programs in 79 countries, including 34 in Africa. “I can’t think of anyone who has worked tirelessly to seed a food secure future across geopolitical and socioeconomic boundaries than Dr. Misra,” said Lulu Rodriguez, interim SSC director. “He developed the world’s largest public seed laboratory that sets global standards for seed purity, viability, vigor, health, and DNA testing. He also led efforts to harmonize seed policies and regulations that removed barriers to farmers’ access to superior, diverse crop genetics so that they can sustain their livelihood and feed their families and communities.”
Over the years, Misra has received many commendations for his leadership, including the Distinguished Service Award from ASTA, the Order of the Knoll Faculty Award from Iowa State, the Global Agricultural Leadership Award from the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture, the Sukup Global Food Security award, the AE50 award (given to the top 50 product innovations in the areas of agricultural, food, and biological systems) from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, and a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for exemplary efforts to acquire, characterize, conserve, and distribute to scientists germplasm of all life forms important for food and agricultural production.
About the Seed Science Center
The Seed Science Center at Iowa State University is recognized as a global center of excellence in seed science, technology, and systems. The Center engages more than 190 faculty, affiliated faculty, staff, and students in cutting-edge research, education, training, and global programs. It houses the Seed Laboratory, which has provided accurate, professional seed testing services to the seed industry for more than 120 years. It performs tests on tens of thousands of seed samples, testing more than 300 species of seeds for more than 350 different pathogens, making it the world's largest and most comprehensive public seed laboratory. SSC's mission is to improve seed production, quality assurance, marketing, utilization, and regulatory environment through research, testing, teaching, outreach, and international programs.
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