The Botany Scientist Awards is the world's leading platform dedicated to cutting—edge research, innovation, and collaboration in the ever-evolving field of botany, which honors top-notch scientists in various fields of science.

The award Committee, which included scientists from China, Spain, Iran, India and Sierra Leone, decided to award this year's Breakthrough Research Award to Dr. Vishnu D. Rajput for innovative research at the forefront of science of high global importance, for technological development in the field of soil science — in particular, for the study of the impact of nanoparticles on soil and plant health, as well as for the nanobioengineering of the rhizosphere for sustainable agriculture.

"This award is an extremely important and inspiring recognition for me personally and for our entire team. It confirms that our chosen scientific direction — the use of nanobiotechnology for soil health — is crucial for the future of the planet. Our mission is not just to clean up polluted lands, but to create the basis for sustainable agriculture that can ensure the food security of our country without depleting resources.

It would be impossible to achieve such a breakthrough alone. This award rightfully belongs to my strong team of talented and dedicated scientists, whose daily work at the Academy moves our science forward. And, of course, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Southern Federal University and Professor Tatiana Minkina, Head of the Department of Soil Science, for their long–term support, resources provided and faith in our ideas," said Vishnu D. Rajput.

For the last 10 years, scientist Vishnu D. Rajput has been conducting scientific research at the D.I. Ivanovsky Academy of Biology and Medicine of the Southern Federal University in one of the most relevant and socially significant areas at present – cleaning contaminated soils and improving the environmental situation in the world. The main focus of the scientist's research is on the sustainable use of nanomaterials for soil health management and the development of sustainable agriculture. Rajput's works have received wide international recognition and currently have more than 14,945 citations according to Scopus.