Mosaic : Recognizes Dr. Krishnendu Ray, with The Mosaic Company Foundation Award for Outstanding Doctoral Research in Plant Nutrition

This award honors Dr. Ray's research in estimating the site-specific nutrient management, following 4R nutrient stewardship practices, for hybrid maize cultivars.

The Mosaic Company presented Dr. Krishnendu Ray with its third annual The Mosaic Company Foundation Award for Outstanding Doctoral Research in the area of Plant Nutrition, which focused on the cycles and management of potash (K), sulfur (S) and zinc (Zn), as well as each nutrient's role in addressing human malnutrition, environmental services, and disease resistance. This competitive award recognizes, incentivizes and honors doctoral students of truly exceptional ability and originality of thought for their contribution to the field of plant nutrition. Ray received a gold medal and trophy with a monetary award of INR 150,000 ($2,400 USD) during a ceremony on Monday, March 6, 2017 at the S. M. Sehgal Foundation in Gurgaon, India.

'I find words inadequate to express my deepest gratitude to Mosaic for honouring my research with this esteemed award,' said Ray. 'I really feel humbled and privileged to be receiving this award. It will help provide me with inspiration and encouragement to continue my research in the arena of plant nutrition; and will serve as a beacon light for me for the days ahead.'

Ray was selected by an independent award jury for The Mosaic Company Foundation Award. His research study titled, 'Site-specific nutrient management for improving nutrient use efficiency in hybrid rabi maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars in lower Gangetic Plains,' estimates the site-specific nutrient management (SSNM), following 4R nutrient stewardship practices, for hybrid maize cultivars and demonstrates its advantage over a farmer's fertilizer practice.
Ray's field of expertise is in crop husbandry, focusing on potato, mustard, sesame, sunflower and hybrid maize cultivation. He is a lifetime member of the Indian Society of Agronomy (ISA), IARI, New Delhi.

The award ceremony was attended by members in the scientific agricultural community, including Chief Guest Dr. R.S. Paroda, former Director General for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Government of India. Paroda has earned numerous awards and recognitions for his research, including ICAR Team Research Award, FICCI Award and the prestigious Padma Bhushan, awarded by the India Government in 1998.