About Professor Rattan Lal
Professor Rattan Lal (born 5 September 1944) is an Indian-American soil scientist of global repute, widely regarded as a pioneer in regenerative and soil-centric agriculture. His transformative research has demonstrated how healthy soils can provide solutions to some of humanity’s greatest challenges—climate change, food security, water scarcity, and sustainable livelihoods.
Born into a farming family in the Punjab region of pre-Partition India, Lal experienced early the vulnerabilities of smallholder farmers, which shaped his lifelong dedication to soil and food systems. After completing his education at Punjab Agricultural University, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, and earning his Ph.D. in Soil Science from The Ohio State University, he went on to influence agricultural practices across continents.