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Scientist recognized for breakthroughs in pepper breeding
Photo courtesy of World Food Prize.
A senior scientist at the World Vegetable Center has been recognized for his breakthroughs in pepper breeding with the 2025 Borlaug Field Award for Field Research and Application.
Dr. Derek Barchenger’s work has resulted in pepper varieties that are more productive and better suited for smaller producers around the globe. “What we do is we try to understand the issues that are being faced throughout that value chain by all the users, including consumers, and then use modern breeding and genetics improvement techniques to try to develop varieties that meet those needs,” he says.
He tells Brownfield that more than 41 million tons of peppers are produced annually, and producers rely on the crop for income. “The work we do and the funding we get is incredibly important in income generation and socioeconomic mobility for people who have small holdings,” he says. “Who are in peri-urban or urban environments, but also for the global food supply.”
Barchenger says peppers are packed full of essential micronutrients and play a crucial role in nutrition and resilient food systems. “Peppers have six times more Vitamin C than oranges,” he says. “It’s a very quick and easy way to get your RDA of Vitamin C. It’s also a good source of beta carotene, which is a huge problem globally for especially mothers, young children, and pregnant women.”
Barchenger grew up on an Oklahoma farm, and his fascination with peppers shaped his professional journey. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Oklahoma State University, a Master of Science in Horticulture from the University of Arkansas, and a Ph.D. in Plant and Environmental Sciences from New Mexico State University.
He joined WorldVeg in 2016 as a United States Borlaug Fellow in Global Food Security and began leading the global pepper breeding program in 2018.
Tom Vilsack, CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation, says Barchenger embodies the spirit of Dr. Norman Borlaug and uses science in service of humanity. He says his leadership is a reminder that innovation in the field can be a powerful force for global food and nutrition security.
Barchenger will be presented with the award during the 2025 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 21-23.
AUDIO: Derek Barchenger, 2025 Borlaug Field Award for Field Research and Application recipient
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