Proudly announcing the 2025 and 2026 Crawford Fund Medal recipients
July 29, 2026
The Crawford Fund for Food Security is pleased to announce the recipients of the Crawford Fund Medals for 2025 and 2026.
The 2025 Crawford Fund Medal has been awarded to Dr Gabrielle Persley AM in recognition of her outstanding and sustained contribution to international agricultural research for development. Over more than five decades, Dr Persley has helped shape global agricultural science through leadership in biosciences, biotechnology, agricultural innovation and research capacity building, while making a foundational contribution to the establishment of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
The 2026 Crawford Fund Medal has been awarded to Dr Derek Byerlee AO in recognition of his outstanding and sustained contribution to international agricultural research and global food security. His pioneering work in farming systems research, agricultural policy and the development of more effective research systems has influenced agricultural research and development across Africa, Asia and Latin America, and helped shape international thinking on agricultural productivity and sustainability.
The Crawford Fund Medal recognises individuals who have made an exceptional and enduring contribution to international agricultural research and its impact on global food security.
Dr Persley will receive the 2025 Crawford Fund Medal during the Crawford Fund for Food Security Conference in Canberra on 10 August 2026.
Dr Byerlee will receive the 2026 Crawford Fund Medal at a special seminar hosted at SARDI’s Plant Research Centre, Waite Campus, Adelaide, on 13 October 2026, where he will also deliver the 2026 Sir John Crawford Memorial Address. More details about this event will be announced in the coming weeks.
The full citations for both awards are available below:
