Agricultural research scientist Rajeev Varshney, a TWAS Fellow since 2016 specializing in genomics and molecular breeding, has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences. He is honoured for his groundbreaking contributions to plant breeding, crop productivity, and food security.

An internationally recognized leader for his work on genome sequencing, genetic diversity, and genomics-assisted breeding in the developing countries, Varshney serves as director of the Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, and the WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre. He is also the international chair in agriculture and food security at Murdoch University, in Perth, Western Australia.

His research has enhanced food security and nutrition in India, other Asian countries, and Africa. Over the course of his career, he has decoded the genome of several key crops, including wheat, chickpea, peanut, soybean, and pearl millet, providing plant breeders worldwide with new tools for precision breeding. These tools increase the crops' tolerance to droughts and resistance to pests.

His crop improvement programmes make use of molecular markers, or genetic indicators, which enable the identification of desirable genetic traits, to enhance the productivity of Australian cereals, legume, and horticultural crop varieties.

His research outputs intertwine with agricultural industries, fuelling a flywheel that brings tangible benefits not only to farmers but to the entire Australian food supply chain.