Abdul Awal Mintoo named among World Food Prize Foundation’s 2025 Top Agri-Food Pioneers

The World Food Prize Foundation has recognised prominent Bangladeshi business leader and politician Abdul Awal Mintoo as one of its 2025 Top Agri-Food Pioneers (TAP), honouring his transformative contributions to agriculture and food security in Bangladesh and beyond.

Mintoo, the chairman of Lal Teer Seed Limited, has played a pivotal role in reshaping the country’s agricultural sector. His company currently supplies about 30 percent of Bangladesh’s total seed demand—an achievement that has been critical in overcoming the nation’s long-standing challenges with poor seed quality and low crop yields.

In 1995, recognising the urgent need for high-quality seeds, Mintoo established Lal Teer Seed under the Multimode Group. His initiative significantly strengthened food security by giving farmers access to better planting materials and boosting overall agricultural productivity.

With academic credentials that include master’s degrees in law and agricultural economics from the University of London, Mintoo has also championed crop diversification. He encouraged the introduction of vegetables into the country’s rice-dominated farming systems, improving both nutrition and income for marginal farmers and contributing to poverty reduction.

In 2011, Mintoo expanded his efforts by founding Lal Teer Livestock Development Limited. The venture focuses on enhancing meat and milk production, and is known for producing high-quality semen from genetically superior bulls to support sustainable artificial insemination programs. His direct engagement with farmers through outreach and knowledge-sharing initiatives has further accelerated rural development and productivity.

Mintoo’s decades-long commitment to agricultural innovation and rural empowerment has made him a revered figure in Bangladesh’s agri-food landscape. The international recognition by the World Food Prize Foundation highlights the global relevance of his work in promoting sustainable agriculture and food security.