Nikolai Vavilov

Nikolai Vavilov was a prominent Russian botanist and geneticist who studied the origins and diversity of crops. He believed that understanding and conserving plant genetic variation was crucial for food security and crop improvement. Vavilov identified centers of crop domestication around the world, showcasing how different regions contributed unique plants to global agriculture. His work laid the foundation for modern plant breeding and seed conservation. Despite facing political persecution during Stalin's era, his scientific contributions remain influential in agriculture and biodiversity preservation today.