Empowering the next generation of women agronomists

Bridging the gap from academia to industry

In India, women constitute 64.4 percent of the country's agricultural workforce, yet only 6-10 percent are employed in top agri and agri-related companies.¹ 

Barriers to entry are often practical and structural. These include extensive field travel, limited access to secure facilities, safety concerns, and family expectations that can restrict mobility. In addition, the transition from academic research to corporate roles can be difficult without the right exposure and networks.

Yara’s newly launched Women in Agronomy Scholar Award aims to help close this gap by supporting high-potential female talent at a critical stage in their academic and professional journeys.

“These five young women represent the future of agricultural innovation in India. With this award, we give them support, mentorship, and a bridge into agronomy. It is a concrete way to nurture academic excellence, strengthen gender diversity, and help their research make a real difference for farmers. That is what ‘Knowledge Grows’ means in practice.” 

Sanjiv Kanwar, SVP, Yara India

More than a scholarship

In addition to receiving financial grants enabling them to focus on their research, the initiative will provide mentorship, research opportunities, and industry exposure. The five scholars will participate in a six-month mentorship program with experts from Yara Agronomic Research and Development (YARD).

Through regular sessions, mentors will share industry insights, discuss career paths, and provide guidance on how the students’ academic expertise can translate into real agronomic impact for farmers.

Building on a global movement

The Scholar Award builds on Yara’s global Women in Agronomy program, launched in 2020 to break barriers for women in agronomy and sales roles. Since then, more than 1,000 employees from 40 countries have participated, with male colleagues and mentors joining the effort to help drive lasting change.

Yara's Scholar Award is extending this commitment to support the next generation of female agronomists entering the field.

“By investing in these students, we are living what we stand for, which is knowledge as the engine of innovation and equality as a basic condition for sustainable progress,” says Rejane Souza, SVP Global Innovation, Yara. 

“Initiatives like the Women in Agronomy Scholar Award are both the right thing to do and a strategic capability investment. They help build a stronger and more diverse talent pipeline in a key growth region and reduce capability gaps in critical agronomic roles,” she adds.

Winners of the India Scholar Award

The winners of Yara's Women in Agronomy Scholar Award are addressing some of the most pressing challenges farmers in India face today, including water management, soil health, climate impacts, and input efficiency.

• Ruchi tests nano-fertilizers and cow-urine-enriched micronutrients to improve nutrient use efficiency in maize. 

• Kalyani is optimizing drip irrigation systems for maize under different planting densities and nutrient levels. 

• Dharani models soil carbon dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions across humid tropical landscapes. 

• Gobikashri uses remote sensing and crop simulation models to estimate rice area and yield before harvest in coastal delta regions. 

• Barsha studies how to combine conventional and nano-fertilizers in rice–wheat rotations to boost productivity while protecting soil health.

Through initiatives like this, Yara aims to empower the next generation of agronomic leaders while strengthening the research and capabilities needed to address the global food system’s most urgent challenges.

Sources:

1- Vemireddy, V., & Lucia, R. (2025, March). "Women in Agribusiness Report 2025: Opportunities and Challenges". Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.