Dr. Norman BorlaugSaving a billion lives
Dr. Norman Borlaug, third from the right, trains biologists in Mexico on how to increase wheat yields - part of his life-long war on hunger.
About
Norman Ernest Borlaug (March 25, 1914 – September 12, 2009) was an American agronomist who led initiatives worldwide that contributed to the extensive increases in agricultural production termed the Green Revolution. Borlaug was awarded multiple honors for his work, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Borlaug received his B.S. in forestry in 1937 and Ph.D. in plant pathology and genetics from the University of Minnesota in 1942. He took up an agricultural research position with CIMMYT in Mexico, where he developed semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease-resistant wheat varieties. During the mid-20th century, Borlaug led the introduction of these high-yielding varieties combined with modern agricultural production techniques to Mexico, Pakistan, and India. As a result, Mexico became a net exporter of wheat by 1963. Between 1965 and 1970, wheat yields nearly doubled in Pakistan and India, greatly improving the food security in those nations. Borlaug was often called "the father of the Green Revolution", and is credited with saving over a billion people worldwide from starvation. According to Jan Douglas, executive assistant to the president of the World Food Prize Foundation, the source of this number is Gregg Easterbrook's 1997 article "Forgotten Benefactor of Humanity." The article states that the "form of agriculture that Borlaug preaches may have prevented a billion deaths." He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 in recognition of his contributions to world peace through increasing food supply. If you have time, you should read more about this incredible human being on his Wikipedia entry.
Life
1914
Born in Cresco, Iowa
1933
Leaves his family's farm to attend the University of Minnesota, thanks to a Depression era program known as the "National Youth Administration"
1935
Has to stop school and save up more money. Works in the Civilian Conservation Corps, helping starving Americans. "I saw how food changed them", he said. "All of this left scars on me."
1937
Finishes university and takes a job in the US Forestry Service
1938
Marries wife of 69 years Margret Gibson. Gets laid off due to budget cuts. Inspired by Elvin Charles Stakman, he returns to school study under Stakman, who teaches him about breeding pest-resistent plants.
1941
Tries to enroll in the military after the Pearl Harbor attack, but is rejected. Instead, the military asked his lab to work on waterproof glue, DDT to control malaria, disinfectants, and other applied science.
1942
Receives a Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Pathology
1944
Rejects a 100% salary increase from Dupont, leaves behind his pregnant wife, and flies to Mexico to head a new plant pathology program. Over the next 16 years, his team breed 6,000 different strains of disease resistant wheat - including different varieties for each major climate on Earth.
1945
Discovers a way to grown wheat twice each season, doubling wheat yields.
1953
Crosses a short, sturdy dwarf breed of wheat with a high-yielding American breed, creating a strain that responds well to fertilizer. It goes on to provide 95% of Mexico's wheat.
1962
Visits Delhi and brings his high-yielding strains of wheat to the Indian subcontinent in time to help mitigate mass starvation due to a rapidly expanding population
1970
Receives the Nobel Peace Prize
1983
Helps seven African countries dramatically invrease their maize and sorghum yields
1984
Becomes a distinguished professor at Texas A&M University.
2005
States "We will have to double the world food supply by 2050." Argues that genetically modified crops are the only way we can meet the demand, as we run out of arable land. Says that GM crops are not inherently dangerous because "we've benn genetically modifying plants and animals for a long time. Long before we called it science, people were selecting the best breeds."
2009
Dies at the age of 95.
"Borleg's life and achievements are testimony to the far-reaching contribution that one man's towerling intelect, persistance and scientific vision can make to human peace and progress." Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh
Quiz
Give your best to answer the short Quiz about Dr. Norman Borlaug correctly and you'll be gifted his Bestseller Book »Double Yield or Nothing«