Dr Jai Rana

Senior Scientist and Country Representative for India, Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT

Dr Jai Rana has worked with the Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT as a Senior Scientist and Country Representative for the India office since 2017. He is also currently working with the CGIAR Systems Transformation Science Group on Agrobiodiversity and the CGIAR Initiative on Nature-Positive Solutions. Previously, he worked for 30 years with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, working on the management of genetic resources of temperate agri-horticultural crops.

His research primarily focuses on enhancing adaptive management of crop diversity for resilient agriculture and improved livelihoods. Among many achievements, Dr Rana has developed 15 varieties of rice and secured six patents. Through his work, he has strengthened the Indian informal seed system with over 50 community seed banks, conserving over 5,000 native varieties. Dr Rana holds a PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding. He has published over 200 research papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals, as well as many popular articles, books and chapters. Dr Rana has won many awards and recognitions, including the ICAR-MS Swaminathan National Award for Outstanding Research on Hill Agriculture; the Recognition Award and Dr L.C. Sikka Endowment Award of the National Academy of Agriculture Sciences; the B.R. Barwale Award; the IBRA Golden Peacock Award; the Dr R.B. Ekbote National Prize for PGR use; NAAS, ISGPB, ISPGR Fellowships; and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.