This prestigious award is tribute to his outstanding contribution to cotton science and his lasting impact on the global agricultural community.
The International Cotton Advisory committee has announced renowned scientist Dr C D Mayee, a renowned cotton scientist and President of South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC) as recipient of Researcher of the year award 2025 for his outstanding work in cotton research. This prestigious award is tribute to his outstanding contribution to cotton science and his lasting impact on the global agricultural community.
The ICAC RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD is internationally recognised as the top-most award in cotton science.It is globally accepted as the most prestigious and the highest international recognition for cotton scientists. The Award was initiated by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) in 2009 and as of now it is the only International Award for Cotton Scientists.
Researchers from Universities and Public Sector Research Organizations, working in any discipline of cotton production and processing research are eligible to apply for the award. Researchers can apply directly or through heads of their institutions. The ICAC and the Award Panel accept applications (on-line) from February to April 30 each year and the winner is announced in the first week of June.
Applications are evaluated by an Award Panel consisting of five experts located in at least four countries. The Award Panel is anonymous and known only to the chairman of the Award Panel and the ICAC. Applicants will be judged based on the evidence of scientific contribution (research papers, citations, books, patents, innovations, technologies developed and commercialized); awards/recognition (national and international), major contributions to the cotton industry and overall impact on the cotton sector.
Dr.CD Mayee is a renowned cotton scientist currently serving as President of South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC) and Vice President of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi. He has done extensive research in Plant Pathology, Epidemiology and Management, Human Resource Development, Cotton Improvement and Biotechnology. He has also been chosen as a Member, African Biosafety Network Expertise, Burkina Faso and International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA). He has done extensive research in Plant Pathology, Epidemiology and Management, Human Resource Development, Cotton Improvement and Biotechnology.
In view of his outstanding contributions, Dr Mayee has been conferred with various awards and honours – Prof. M.J. Narasimhan Academic Award, 1974, V.P. Gokhale Award, 1998, Vasantrao Naik Krishi Award, 2002, Outstanding Team Research Award, 2003, Dr. B.Vishwanath Award, 2005, Life Time Achievement Awards, 2008, 2011, 2012, Lekhiram Memorial Award, 2009, Doda Raghav Reddy Award, 2010, Leadership Award 2010, Amit Prabudh Manishi Award, 2012, IPS Recognition Award, 2012, Sasya Suraksha Mahajani Award, 2012, D.Sc.(Honoris Causa), Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa Samastipur(Bihar), 2009, OUAT, Bhubaneshwar(Orissa), 2010 and Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat(Assam), 2010. Honoured with two civilian awards for social, cultural and scientific activities in the city of Nagpur, viz. Global Nagpur and Sarathi Awards.Sheti Sanman Puraskar by ABP Maza Marathi Channel, 2016, Annasaheb Shinde Puraskar, 2017 for contribution to agriculture, DR A.P. Misra. Life Time Achievement Award , 2017 by IIPS, New Delhi, Padma bhushan Dr Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil National Award, 2017 by Rayat Shikshan Santha ,Satara.
