Born and raised in a small agrarian village in India’s Punjab region, that nation’s breadbasket, Balwinder Kumar has been immersed in agriculture since childhood. His family grew forages for their small cattle herd, and though his parents encouraged him to study medicine, he was intensely curious about farming processes and problem solving. “Going into agricultural research was a natural progression,” he said. Since he earned his PhD from Punjab Agricultural University, his research has allowed him to act on his scientific curiosity while interacting with farmers. After earning an undergraduate degree in agronomy, he completed a doctorate in crop science while also studying crop physiology, crop production, genetics and soil science. He focused on how agronomics can improve farm efficiency and productivity while maintaining soil health. He drew upon this interconnected foundation as a full professor and associate director at his alma mater, where he led a team of 25 scientists and support staff. His immersive experience continues to serve him as a research scientist at Lakeland College in Vermilion.