The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has awarded the 2025 Borlaug CAST Communication Award to Dr. David L. Ortega, a professor at Michigan State University, during a ceremony on March 3, 2026, at Madison Hall in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. The event also recognized Suraksha Baral, a Ph.D. student at The Ohio State University, as the recipient of CAST’s Science Communication Scholarship.
Dr. Ortega was honored for his work in making food and agricultural economics research accessible to policymakers, media professionals, and the public. His research covers consumer behavior, food prices, agricultural trade, and supply chain dynamics. Over his career, he has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and secured over $9 million in research funding. He has appeared in major media outlets such as The New York Times and NPR and provided testimony before U.S. legislative bodies.
Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Dr. Ortega moved to the United States at age ten and earned his Ph.D. from Purdue University before joining Michigan State University.
CAST CEO Dr. Chris Boomsma stated: “Dr. Ortega exemplifies the very purpose of the Borlaug CAST Communication Award. His ability to clearly explain the economics of food systems helps policymakers, decision-makers, and the public make more informed decisions.”
Dr. Jill J. McCluskey of the International Association of Agricultural Economists nominated Dr. Ortega for the award and commented that he “publicly offers timely and data-driven economic insights during major disruptions—such as the pandemic and tariff escalation—shaping national policy discourse.”
In his acceptance remarks at the ceremony, Dr. Ortega said: “I accept this award not as a personal achievement, but as a reminder, to myself and to everyone in this room, that the work of explaining the economics of our food system is never finished.”
The Borlaug CAST Communication Award is named after Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug and recognizes significant contributions to communicating agricultural science.
Suraksha Baral received CAST’s Science Communication Scholarship for her efforts in sharing behavioral and environmental economics research with non-academic audiences while pursuing her doctorate at Ohio State University.
Baral led an initiative called Can Fairy with partners including SWACO Franklin County that reached 200 households in Columbus by distributing recycling containers along with educational materials designed to clarify recycling practices using graphics and videos.
She also presented agricultural data to public audiences at events like Farm Science Review by using charts to show trends in farm consolidation across the Midwest region.
Baral could not attend in person but shared her thoughts via video: “People usually do not ignore science because they do not care. Often, they just cannot translate it into daily decisions. Small difference in how information is explained can determine whether a household participates correctly or gives up.”
The scholarship is open annually to undergraduate or graduate students who are members or enrolled at member universities; applications are judged on clarity and impact.
CAST operates as a nonprofit organization under formal governance rules according to its official website. Its mission involves bringing together experts to provide unbiased information about agriculture and natural resources for policymakers, media representatives, private sector actors and general audiences as outlined online. Through collaborations with scientific societies and individual scientists—including students—CAST supports both research initiatives and communication projects as described on its site.
The organization produces reports on topics such as plant science or animal science intended for use by both public officials and broader communities according to its publications list. Over time it has engaged thousands of volunteers globally through outreach activities spanning hundreds of publications per organizational records, extending its influence internationally on issues related to agriculture systems management as noted online.
