Lincoln University Student Named 2025 Borlaug Scholar

By Blake Jackson

Prabesh Koirala, a graduate student in sustainable agriculture at Lincoln University of Missouri (LU), has been named a 2025 Borlaug Scholar by the National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB).

Koirala is the only student from an 1890 land-grant institution chosen for this year’s prestigious cohort, which includes undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. students from across the U.S.

The Borlaug Scholars program honors Dr. Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and renowned agricultural scientist who developed high-yield wheat varieties that helped combat global hunger. The award includes full sponsorship to attend the NAPB Annual Meeting, a year-long mentorship with a senior scientist, and a five-year membership in the organization.

“I’m really honored to be selected,” Koirala says. “It’s a competitive award, and being the only scholar from an 1890s institution in the 2025 cohort means a lot.”

Koirala presented his research at the NAPB Annual Meeting in Kona Island, Hawaii, from May 19-23. His project, Quantifying Carbon Dynamics in Industrial Hemp: An Integrated Trait-to-Flux Approach, focuses on industrial hemp’s potential as a carbon-negative crop that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“After the 2018 Farm Bill, there was a lot of interest in hemp research,” Koirala noted. “Hemp has a lot of potential. It can help mitigate climate change by absorbing atmospheric carbon. It also has many uses - in fiber, textiles, fuel, food, medicine and even cleaning up the land.”

Under the guidance of Dr. Babu Valliyodan at LU’s George Washington Carver Farm, Koirala studied nine hemp varieties to examine how they absorb and store carbon in plants and soil. His research involved measuring photosynthesis, root architecture, plant growth, and gas exchange to determine which varieties are most effective in sequestering carbon.

This work contributes to sustainable agriculture by identifying crop varieties that can reduce emissions and improve environmental health.

As part of his award, Koirala is mentored by Dr. Klaus Koehler of Corteva Agriscience. “I meet with my mentor once a month,” Koirala said. “He shares his experience, and I get to ask questions about education, leadership and how to grow my career. It’s a great opportunity to learn and improve.”

Photo Credit: lincoln-univsersity-missouri