Steven Xu, a leading Research Geneticist at USDA-ARS, has been honored as one of the 2024 Top Agri-Food Pioneers by the World Food Prize. This year’s list features 38 trailblazers from across the world, chosen for their innovative efforts to address global food security and build more resilient food systems. This inaugural cohort marks the World Food Prize’s 38th anniversary.
With a focus on plant genetics and genomics, Xu has dedicated his career to developing crops with enhanced resistance to diseases, pests, and environmental stressors. His contributions to the fight against stem rust—a formidable disease for wheat—are particularly noteworthy. Since 2006, Xu has collaborated with the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI) to combat the global risk posed by wheat rust. His efforts, as part of the USDA-ARS team, were recognized with the 2020 BGRI Gene Stewardship Award for a commitment to protecting wheat from aggressive stem rust races like Ug99.
Steven Xu scoring Fusarium head blight (FHB) in the FHB nursery in Prosper, North Dakota.
Xu and his team have screened over 20,000 germplasm accessions in the USDA National Small Grains Collection, identifying more than 20 new resistance genes effective against Ug99 and other virulent stem rust strains. Their discoveries have been instrumental in developing genetic markers, which are now utilized by genotyping centers and breeding programs worldwide to support sustainable wheat production and extend the durability of resistance genes.
“Steven Xu’s contributions have been transformative for global wheat health, addressing some of the most pressing challenges in crop disease with exceptional dedication and innovation,” said Maricelis Acevedo, director for science for the BGRI and research professor at Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “Through his commitment and groundbreaking discoveries, Steven has not only advanced our scientific understanding but also strengthened food security for communities worldwide. We’re thrilled to see his invaluable contributions recognized in such a meaningful way.”
Xu’s work with USDA-ARS extends beyond wheat, contributing to genetic advances that are transforming agriculture and bolstering food security. This ongoing dedication aligns with the mission of the Top Agri-Food Pioneer List, which aims to build a network of innovators from various fields in food and agriculture. This first cohort will serve as a foundation for a yearly tradition of recognizing pioneers, facilitating global collaboration and knowledge sharing in food systems transformation.
As a 2024 Top Agri-Food Pioneer, Xu joins a distinguished group whose work spans continents and disciplines, collectively committed to addressing food security challenges. This recognition underscores Xu’s vital role in developing resilient crop systems and highlights the importance of collaborative science in building sustainable futures.
