Dr Rakesh K. Srivastava leads the pearl millet genomics and molecular breeding team at ICRISAT. He is extensively involved in the generation of cutting-edge genetic and genomic resources, mining, mapping, and deployment of QTLs/genes for various biotic, abiotic, grain and fodder quality-related traits in pearl millet as a global mandate. He contributed significantly to the platinum-grade pearl millet genome assemblies, pangenome analysis for heat tolerance and Milletdb-a multi-omics database platform on millets. He led a team comprising national and international partners to define the heterotic gene pools in pearl millet for the first time. He also led the pearl millet downy mildew genome sequence. He contributed significantly to the pearl millet genome sequence work including the development of resources such as the world association mapping panel, representing the global pearl millet genetic diversity, mapping population parents and mapping populations. He also contributed the world reference germplasm Tift23D2B1-PI-P5 for deep sequencing which now serves as a world reference genome for pearl millet. He is currently working on the development of new genetic stocks, functional genomic resources (such as TILLING), trait mapping (Fe/Zn, low glycemic index (GI), nitrogen use efficiency, fertility restoration, Striga, low P) and deployment of these traits. Rakesh obtained his Ph.D. degree in Genetics from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi in the year 2004. He worked with Syngenta Seeds for two years after his Ph.D. before joining ICRISAT in the year 2006. He has been with ICRISAT for the past 18 years and is currently working as a Principal Scientist (Genomics and Trait Discovery).
Dr C. Tara Satyavathi is a renowned pearl millet breeder. Tara Satyavathi is currently the Director of ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research. Earlier she served as Project Coordinator - All India Coordinated Research Project on Pearl Millet, ICAR, India. She has reoriented the pearl millet programme at IARI, developed hybrids and varieties, identified QTLs for downy mildew resistance, development and identification of high grain iron and zinc pearl millet lines, genetic stocks for high lysine, high tryptophan, white grain etc.
Prof Rajeev K. Varshney FRS is a globally-recognised agricultural scientist specialising in genomes, genetics, molecular breeding and capacity building in developing countries and engaging in discovering, developing and delivering innovative R&D solutions to issues facing global agriculture. Currently Director, Centre for Crop & Food Innovation (CCFI); Director, WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, and International Chair in Agriculture & Food Security at the Food Futures Institute at Murdoch University in Western Australia, Professor Varshney holds Adjunct/Honorary/Visiting Professor positions at 10 academic institutions in Australia, China, Ghana, Hong Kong and India. Earlier he served International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a global agricultural research institute, for 17 years in various science and research leadership role including Research Program Director for various programmes, and Director, Center of Excellence in Genomics & Systems Biology. Prof Varshney, a highly cited researcher for 10 consecutive years (2014-2023), is a highly prolific author and frequently invited speaker including TEDx speaker. Varshney has presented research and novel concepts related to food and nutrition security in several high-level fora such as: G8 International Conference on Open Data for Agriculture on Open Data in Genomics and Modern Breeding for Crop Improvement, organized by US and UK Governments in the World Bank (2013); Brainstorming session on Digital Revolution for Agriculture at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in (2012); FAO's international conference on Agricultural Biotechnology in Developing Countries in Mexico (2010); FAO's Regional Conference on Agricultural Bio technologies in Sustainable Foods Systems and Nutrition in Asia-Pacific Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2017) etc.
