Govaerts is an expert in the fields of bioscience engineering and soil sciences. He is
renowned for pioneering, implementing, and inspiring transformational changes for
farmers and consumers in meeting the sustainable development challenges. He brings
together multi-disciplinary science and development teams to integrate sustainable,
multi-stakeholder and sector strategies that generate innovation and change in the
agri-food systems. His initiatives, excellence in science for impact and the partnerships
he inspired have resulted in improved nutrition, nature conservation, and national and
international resilience and food security.
One of Govaerts’ notable projects MasAgro has been developed in collaboration with
farmers, scientists, trainers, extension agents, and communication and technology
specialists positively impacting the lives of 2.5 million people in Mexico. Inspired by
Norman Borlaug's ethos "Take it to the farmer," MasAgro blends the right seed,
conservation agriculture practices and an integrated market framework, while valuing
and integrating farmer knowledge. This transformative project is being scaled out in
multiple African countries, further extending its reach and impact.
Govaerts has co-authored over 90 peer-reviewed publications. He is a member of the
Sustainable Development Solutions Network, an A.D. White Professor-at-Large at
Cornell University and recipient of the 2014 Norman Borlaug Field Award of the World
Food Prize Foundation. In 2020, Govaerts became a Fellow of The American Society of
Agronomy (ASA) for his outstanding contributions to the field of agronomy.