Bangladeshi received first international South Asian award for nitrogen management

A Bangladeshi was awarded 'Prof. YP Abrol Memorial Award for Excellence in Science and/or policy towards Sustainable Nitrogen Management,' the first-ever international South Asian Award on nitrogen management.

Bangladesh's Dr Anjan Datta shared the award with Nepal's Mahesh Pradhan, according to India Science Wire.

The award was announced in a special virtual event held on June 3, 2021, as part of the 8th triennial Conference of the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI2021).

The duo was awarded for their respective work as a founding architect and the current coordinator of the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management (GPNM).

GPNM is a unique multi-stakeholder partnership of governments, academia, industry, and civil society that addresses global nutrient pollution through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), where both the awardees have been employed.

"The 'Prof. YP Abrol Memorial Award for Excellence in Science and/or policy towards Sustainable Nitrogen Management' was established by the Sustainable India Trust in 2020 in memory of its founder, who passed away on 26 July 2020. We regard him as the father of Indian agricultural nitrogen research," said Raghuram, President of the Sustainable India Trust.

"This award signifies the emergence of South Asia on the global stage of nitrogen management and is a fitting tribute to him," he said.

In his acceptance speech, Anjan Datta said, that valuable nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that are crucial for food security often end up in the wrong place causing water air pollution, ill-health, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

"The initiative is a result of the decade-long efforts of Prof. Abrol and the Indian Nitrogen Group. I am fortunate to have known him, and I am honored and humbled to receive this award", he said.