Syrian Scientist Wins IPNI Science Award
27 January 2009 The Norcross, Georgia, US – based International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) has named Dr. John Ryan – a Soil Fertility Specialist/Principal Scientist/Consultant who was born and educated in Ireland and now works at International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA, located at Aleppo, Syria – as winner of its 2008 Science Award. Ryan receives a plaque and a monetary award of US $5,000. The IPNI Science Award is intended to recognize outstanding achievements in research, extension, or education, with focus on efficient and effective management of plant nutrients and their positive interaction in fully integrated crop production that enhances yield potential, according to an IPNI press release. The recipient is selected by a committee of noted international authorities.
At ICARDA, Ryan’s research focuses on sustainability in long-term cropping systems in rotation trials. Other crop-focused concerns include water and nutrient use efficiency, supplemental irrigation, wastewater use, and conservation tillage. His work on efficient fertilizer use for the past three decades has been a factor in the 10- to 20-fold increases in regional fertilizer use, says IPNI. Additionally, Ryan has raised awareness of micronutrients for crop growth and nutritional quality in Middle Eastern soils, and demonstrated the potential of legume-based, cereal rotations to sequester carbon and improve soil quality and crop water use efficiency. His innovative research has led to publication of more than 165 journal articles, 16 books, 25 chapters, 24 internal articles, 48 conference proceedings, 170 abstracts, and 30 reports.
This is the second year the IPNI Science Award has been presented. The previous recipient in 2007 was Dr. M.S. Aulakh of India.
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