The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Zachary P. Stewart as the organization’s new Vice President of Research, effective January 27. Dr. Stewart succeeds Dr. Upendra Singh, who leaves an enduring legacy at IFDC after more than 30 years of groundbreaking work in soil fertility and systems modeling.
Dr. Stewart brings significant expertise in international agricultural research and development and a multidisciplinary background that will be invaluable in his new role.
As Senior Food Security Advisor at USAID, Dr. Stewart led transformative initiatives aimed at enhancing global food and nutrition security for smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. His efforts not only served to increase agricultural productivity but also led to improve livelihoods and nutrition for farming communities worldwide.
Dr. Stewart’s leadership within the SOILS Consortium has cemented his reputation as a global authority on soil health and soil fertility, and his innovative strategies have advanced sustainable agriculture practices on a global scale. Notably, the World Food Prize Foundation honored Dr. Stewart with the John Chrystal Award for his impactful contributions to agriculture and food security.
Dr. Stewart holds a doctorate in soil science and crop physiology from the University of Nebraska, a master’s degree in control of infectious diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental sciences, and international relations from Creighton University.
As Dr. Stewart prepares to step into this role, IFDC would like to recognize Dr. Singh for his unparalleled contributions over the past three decades. Dr. Singh’s pioneering work in crop simulation models, decision support systems, and fertilizer deep placement (FDP) technology has been instrumental in shaping sustainable agriculture practices across the world. His leadership has driven the adoption of FDP technology, benefiting millions of farmers across Southeast Asia and beyond.
IFDC is excited to welcome Dr. Stewart to the IFDC team and looks forward to the vision and expertise he will bring to the organization’s research initiatives.
