Dr. Kevin Folta was recognized as the winner of the seventh Borlaug CAST Communication Award (BCCA), and was honored with the award at a World Food Prize side event. Folta gave a memorable keynote address, titled “Unveiling Our Halo – Building Trust with a Concerned Consumer.”

Volta serves as the Chair of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, where he conducts research, educates students, and communicates important concepts about science and the public.

His wide following on social media allows him to actively participate in the public forum about important topics related to agricultural biotechnology. Throughout his career he has received several impressive awards, including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Award for undergraduate mentoring, and the University of Florida Research Foundation Award.

CAST’s annual award is intended to recognize experts in science or agriculture who demonstrate exemplary communication skills, through written material, public presentations, and various forms of media.

According to Dr. Jack Payne of the University of Florida, “Kevin Folta has done as much as anyone in the past decade to help the public understand the biotechnology behind its food.” And many agree with Julie Borlaug Larson’s observation: “He has not shied away from controversial subjects and has often been the number one target of the anti-science movement on behalf of all of us who support biotechnology.”