Dr Charudatta Mayee is the 2025 ICAC Researcher of the Year

The ICAC honors a leading cotton researcher each year by awarding a certificate of recognition, a shield, and an honorarium of $1,000. Dr Mayee was selected by an independent panel of five eminent experts from five different countries.

Dr Mayee, a pioneer in cotton biotechnology, played a pivotal role in India's Bt cotton revolution, overseeing biosafety evaluations and regulatory approvals as Co-Chair of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee. His expertise spans plant pathology, cotton biotechnology, and agricultural policy, with a lifelong commitment to improving farmer livelihoods.

Dr Mayee has received numerous accolades spanning five decades, recognizing his transformative contributions to agricultural science. He is an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow and has received lifetime achievement awards from multiple institutions. His early career was marked by the Prof MJ Narasimhan Academic Award (1974) and VP Gokhale Award (1998), followed by national honors like the Vasantrao Naik Krishi Award (2002), ICAR Outstanding Team Research Award (2003), and Dr B Vishwanath Award (2005). 

His recent work focuses on promoting high density planting systems (HDPS) and sustainable pest management solutions for smallholder cotton farmers. Dr Mayee remains actively engaged in farmer welfare initiatives through organizations like Agrovision Foundation and the South Asia Biotech Center. He continues to conduct field demonstrations, develop sustainable farming solutions, and advocate for policies that support smallholder cotton farmers across India.