Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,659 posts)
Mon Mar 25, 2019, 04:12 PM Mar 2019

He would have turned 105 today: Norman Borlaug

Hat tip, Donny Ferguson:

Donny Ferguson 🗽 Retweeted

The greatest humanitarian genius of the entire 20th century, and that's not a joke.



Norman Borlaug



Norman Borlaug, in 2004.

Born Norman Ernest Borlaug, March 25, 1914, Cresco, Iowa, United States
Died September 12, 2009 (aged 95), Dallas, Texas, United States

Known for: Green Revolution, World Food Prize
Awards: Nobel Peace Prize (1970), Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977), ForMemRS (1987), Vannevar Bush Award (2000), Public Welfare Medal (2002), National Medal of Science (2004), Congressional Gold Medal (2006), Padma Vibhushan (2006)

Norman Ernest Borlaug (/ˈbɔːrlɔːɡ/; March 25, 1914 – September 12, 2009) was an American agronomist and humanitarian 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 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.

Later in his life, he helped apply these methods of increasing food production in Asia and Africa.
....
1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
He would have turned 105 today: Norman Borlaug (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Mar 2019 OP
And to think he did it all without resorting to splicing genes Brother Buzz Mar 2019 #1
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»He would have turned 105 ...