WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue University’s own Gebisa Ejeta, a world-renowned plant geneticist, has been selected as one of 15 innovation pioneers for the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) Class of 2026.
The induction recognizes Ejeta’s revolutionary development of sorghum hybrids, a breakthrough that has bolstered food security for hundreds of millions of people globally. Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop in the world, and Ejeta’s work specifically targeted the dual threats of drought and parasitic weeds that have long devastated harvests in sub-Saharan Africa.
Born in a remote Ethiopian village, Ejeta’s journey to the Hall of Fame began with a 20-kilometer walk to school every Sunday. His mother’s encouragement led him to agriculture, eventually bringing him to Purdue University in 1974.
During his career, Ejeta achieved two primary scientific milestones:
- Drought-Tolerant Hybrids: In the 1980s, he developed Africa’s first commercial hybrid sorghum, Hageen Dura-1, which yielded up to 100% more grain than traditional varieties.
- Striga Resistance: In the 1990s, he identified the chemical signals between sorghum and Striga (a parasitic “witchweed”) to create seeds resistant to both the weed and extreme drought.
“To be told that I’ve fed millions,” Ejeta said of his life’s work, is his proudest achievement. His previous honors include the 2009 World Food Prize and the 2023 National Medal of Science.
Ejeta will be enshrined alongside other luminaries—including Spanx founder Sara Blakely and CRISPR pioneer Feng Zhang—during the nation’s 250th anniversary year.
The 2026 induction festivities will take place in May:
- May 6: The Illumination Ceremony at the NIHF Museum in Alexandria, Virginia, where Ejeta will place his name on an illuminated hexagon in the Gallery of Icons®.
- May 7: The Induction Ceremony at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., a black-tie event hosted by actress and mathematician Danica McKellar.
2026 Inductee Highlights
| Inventor | Innovation |
| Gebisa Ejeta | Sorghum Hybrids |
| Sara Blakely | SPANX® Shapewear |
| Teresa Meng | CMOS Wi-Fi |
| Feng Zhang | CRISPR Gene Editing |
| Henry Samueli | Broadband Communications |
“This remarkable class brings the possibility of better tomorrows just that much closer for all of us,” said John A. Squires, Director of the USPTO. “Their breakthroughs improve lives, fuel economic growth, and advance the American spirit of ingenuity.”
