Surinder Vasal

Dr. Surinder K. Vasal (born April 12, 1938) is a plant breeder and geneticist whose work with maize led to the development of high-quality protein maize (QPM). He and his colleague, Dr. Evangelina Villegas, shared the 2000 World Food Prize for this achievement.

Early life and career

Vasal was born and grew up in Amritsar, India. He completed his university education at various institutions in India and earned a Ph.D. in genetics and plant breeding from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. In 1959, Vasal launched his career as a researcher for the Department of Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh and later worked as a maize breeder at Himachal Agricultural College.

In 1967, Vasal took up his first assignment outside India, working with the Rockefeller Foundation in Thailand to conduct research on maize in close collaboration with the National Corn and Sorghum Research Center of Kasetsart University. From there he moved to a position at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in 1970, working with and later supervising the high lysine maize project.

Work at CIMMYT

It was at CIMMYT during the 1970s that Vasal began work to develop a variety of maize with higher protein content, to improve nutrition of humans and animals in areas where maize is a dietary staple. Diets consisting largely of maize, which is naturally low in amino acids, are often unbalanced and can lead to severe malnutrition and related health problems.

With the development of Quality Protein Maize, however, which Vasal and Villegas developed in partnership, the amino acid content in the diets of several millions has improved since the 1990s.

In 1997, Dr. Vasal took on a new role, leading CIMMYT’s Asian Regional Maize Program in Thailand. He has strengthened regional hybrid research activities and coordinates the Tropical Asian Maize Network (TAMNET).

Honors and recognition

Vasal is a member of the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America (whose Presidential Award he won in 2000), and India’s National Academy of Sciences. He has received the 1996 International Service in Crop Science Award and the 1999 International Agronomy Award, in addition to accolades from governments of or institutions in Honduras, Peru, Panama, and India.