Stanford Blade
Deputy Director General at ICRISAT
Dr. Stanford (Stan) Blade serves as Deputy Director General – Research and Innovation at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a global research and innovation organization operating across Asia and Africa. ICRISAT focuses on improving the livelihoods of more than two billion people living in dryland regions by delivering high-impact “research for development” programs that enhance resilience and prosperity while reducing poverty, hunger, and environmental degradation.
Dr. Blade is Dean Emeritus of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Canada), where he successfully completed two five-year terms leading one of the world’s top-ranked faculties. A plant breeder by training, his scientific expertise centers on grain legumes. His career within the CGIAR spans roles as a PhD student (McGill University, Canada), scientist, Deputy Director General, and member of the Board of Trustees of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
In recognition of his international leadership and impact, Dr. Blade was elected an International Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry in 2018 and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022 for contributions to research and international development. Outside of his professional life, Stan is married to Linda, and is the proud parent of two accomplished children. He is also an enthusiastic concertgoer, an avid photographer, and an aspiring social media influencer.
