The Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) has recently instituted Dr Norman E Borlaug Innovative Farmer Award. The award is instituted to honour the enormous contribution of Dr Norman E Borlaug to the global agricultural development and farmers' welfare. Dr Borlaug was a true friend of farmers of South Asia. who enthusiastically adopted high yielding wheat varieties and improved production technologies. The dedicated efforts of farmers together with mentoring of Dr Borlaug, Dr MS Swaminathan and many others ushered in the Green Revolution in India. This award is being instituted through an endowment established at TAAS by contributions made by the members of the TAAS. The Award carries a cash prize of Rupees one lakh, a citation and a plaque and will be given annually to an innovative farmer in South Asia.

The objective of 'Dr Norman E Borlaug Innovative Farmer Award' is to recognize the contribution of farmers (women and men) who have developed and successfully disseminated innovative technologies/practices that have led to significant increase in production/quality of the produce, improved income of innovation adopters along with reduction in environmental foot print. This award aims to motivate the innovative farmers for dissemination of sustainable agricultural practices (SAP) to achieve the 'Evergreen Revolution' ensuring long-term sustainable food and nutritional security in the wake of worsening climate crisis.