UEA professor scoops top agricultural science prize

By: Communications

Prof Jonathan Jones sits in his office, smiling, in front of his computer, which has the Wolf Prize announcement on its screen

Professor Jonathan Jones has been awarded the 2025 Wolf Prize in Agriculture

The University of East Anglia is delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Professor Jonathan Jones, who has been awarded the 2025 Wolf Prize in Agriculture.

Professor Jones, of UEA’s School of Biological Sciences is also group leader at The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) at Norwich Research Park and shares this prestigious honour with Professors Jeffery L Dangl of the University of North Carolina and Brian J Staskawicz of the University of California, Berkeley.

The award recognises their groundbreaking discoveries of the immune system and disease resistance in plants—advancing global food security through revolutionary research in plant immunity.

Landmark recognition

Often regarded as the "Nobel Prize of Agriculture," the Wolf Prize recognises outstanding contributions that have significantly advanced knowledge and innovation in the field.

A key indicator of its prestige is that many Wolf Prize laureates have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize in various scientific disciplines.

Additionally, only nine UK scientists have won the prize in its 46-year history, further highlighting its exclusivity.

Notably, the last three UK recipients—Professor Jonathan Jones (2025), Dame Caroline Dean (2020), and Sir David Baulcombe (2010)—were all recognised for their pioneering work at Norwich Research Park, of which UEA is a key member.

Professor Jones said: “The Sainsbury Lab on the Norwich Research Park has been a fantastic location for a research career.

“Many thanks to my wonderful colleagues at TSL, our greater research community, and our many outstanding advisory board members (two of whom are my co-honourees) that have enabled TSL to become an incredible engine of discovery."

Transforming our understanding of plant immunity

Professors Jones, Dangl, and Staskawicz have shaped modern plant immunity research by uncovering the genetic mechanisms behind disease resistance.

Their discoveries, including the first cloning of plant resistance genes and the identification of immune receptors, laid the foundation for targeted strategies to combat plant pathogens.

A 2006 Nature review by Jones and Dangl provided a now-standard model of plant immunity, while their recent 2024 Cell review with Staskawicz summarizes 50 years of progress in plant immune research.

Their work continues to drive innovation in developing crops with enhanced resistance, ensuring long-term solutions for global agriculture.

The Wolf Prize, awarded annually since 1978, is one of the world’s most prestigious scientific honours, recognising exceptional contributions in Medicine, Agriculture, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics.

For more information, visit www.wolffund.org.il

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