Thomas George

Summary

I am an agronomist with a deep-rooted connection to smallholder farming and a strong passion for making science and technology work for farmers to increase their incomes. I have identified two key economic behaviors by which smallholders can self-transform their low-earning farming into high-earning or not farm at all, if our support is different than today’s! As an agronomy scientist at the University of Hawaii and the International Rice Research Institute, I made groundbreaking discoveries in managing biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in legumes, achieving BNF-fed legume yields close to those produced with nitrogen fertilizers, and in achieving breakthrough high yields (8 t/ha) for rice grown in aerobic soils (unflooded soils, no methane emissions!). I have also developed valuable insights into why farmers choose to forgo extension services or digital tools such as decision support systems even when they are free to access and use! In the latter part of my career, I have specialized in studying agricultural development models, including digital tools and agricultural markets. I have amassed extensive knowledge of rural and agricultural development, uncovered evidence on why development projects and digital tools have not fully delivered on their promises, researched economic behaviors and developed an market system approach that uses these to accelerate income growth for smallholder farmers. This approach focuses on self-enabling farmers as individuals not to farm at all if low earning and sustain their trading relationships with counterparties in the market, a pivotal change that can greatly increase yields and incomes of smallholders. My dedication to agronomy and smallholder farming has been recognized through many honors and awards, including the SOCAP Social Entrepreneurship Scholar, TED Global Fellow, Stanford University Digital Vision Fellow, South Korea Rural Development Administration Honorary Scientist, World Bank McNamara Fellow, Potash and Phosphate Institute J. Fielding Reed Award, Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture Award, Indian Council of Agricultural Research Fellowship, and Kerala Agricultural University Research Scholarship. I am also honored to be the only valedictorian from Kerala Agricultural University in its history so far to graduate with a perfect 4.0/4.0 GPA.