Chef Sanjeev Kapoor Joins India’s Legacy of World Food Prize Laureates
By Manu Shrivastava
In the heart of Iowa, where conversations around food security and sustainable agriculture shape global policy, Padma Shri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor was honoured as a Top Agri-Food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation. The recognition, bestowed during the annual Borlaug Dialogue Week, places Kapoor among a rarefied group of Indians whose work has left an indelible mark on the country’s agri-food landscape.
Kapoor, whose name is synonymous with culinary innovation and philanthropy, has long championed the fusion of nutrition, tradition, and local agriculture. His “farm to finger” philosophy, rooted in India’s cultural practice of eating with hands, underscores a simple yet profound idea: food connects communities, nourishes the body, and carries the legacy of farmers’ toil.
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| Chef Sanjeev Kapoor |
Through initiatives in partnership with organisations like HarvestPlus Solutions, Kapoor has transformed school meals across India, introducing nutrient-rich, locally sourced ingredients in ways that delight children while educating them about sustainable choices. Millions of meals have already been served, and thousands of young minds and farmers engaged, creating ripples of impact that extend far beyond the dining table.
Kapoor’s honour resonates deeply because it follows in the footsteps of India’s distinguished World Food Prize laureates, trailblazers who reshaped the country’s agricultural destiny. M. S. Swaminathan, often hailed as the father of India’s Green Revolution, received the prize in 1987 for introducing high-yielding wheat and rice varieties that saved millions from hunger and transformed India into a food-secure nation.
Decades later, Sanjaya Rajaram, honoured in 2014, carried forward this legacy by developing over 480 wheat varieties, bolstering both productivity and resilience in Indian farming. These pioneers, like Kapoor today, understood that innovation in food is not just a technical pursuit—it is a social mission, a bridge between science, policy, and the everyday lives of citizens.
Speaking on the recognition, Kapoor said, “It is a privilege to be recognised by the World Food Prize Foundation among global pioneers working to make food more sustainable and equitable. India’s agri-food story is a mix of tradition and innovation, and I am proud to represent our farmers, communities, and culinary heritage on this platform. Through carefully designed initiatives and associations with organisations dedicated to nutrition, we can ensure that wholesome food reaches young children and that the next generation grows up healthier and more informed.”
In honouring Kapoor, the World Food Prize Foundation not only celebrates a chef whose influence extends far beyond the kitchen but also highlights the continuing journey of India’s agri-food visionaries. From Green Revolution architects to modern-day nutrition advocates, India’s laureates demonstrate that food is not merely sustenance—it is a vehicle for empowerment, culture, and change.
For Kapoor, this recognition is both an accolade and a call to action: to keep weaving together tradition, taste, and science, ensuring that every plate tells a story of sustainability, health, and Indian ingenuity.
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