Dr. Norman Borlaug - "Father of the Green Revolution"

Colebrating Dr. Norman Borlaug "Father of the Green Revolution" March 25, 2014, marks the 100th birthday of Dr. Norman Borlaug (1914-2009) who is widely recognized as the Father of the Green Revolution and leader of the 21st century movement to solve the world's hunger issues through scientific development and implementation. The Life of Dr. Norman Borlaug 1914 Norman Borlaug (front center) is born to Henry Attended the University of Minnesota where he became an all and Clara Borlaug on a farm American wrestler. He was near Cresco, lowa. inducted into the Wrestlers Hall of Fame nearly 50 years later. 1930's "The battle to ensure food security for hundreds of millions of miserable poor people is far from won." 1942 Became the leader of the 1944 Cooperative Wheat Research Production Program in Mexico, a joint effort of the Rockefeller Foundation and the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture. Graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Ph.D. in plant pathology and genetics. 1964 "We must increase world food supplies but also recognize the links between population growth, food production, and environmental sustainability. " Began 16 years of service as the first director of Mexico's International Maize and Wheat 1970 Improvement Center (Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo, or CIMMYT) 1977 Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his major contributions to the Green Revolution. (Above - Borlaug pictured with his wife Margaret) Received the Presidental Medal of Freedom "Without a better balance, efforts to halt global poverty will grind to a halt." 1986 • Created the World Food Prize to recognize those solving and improving food production in destitute areas of the world. • Served as president and cofounder of Sasakawa Africa Association. 1994 Joined the IFDC board of directors where he served until 2003. His presence and input to the Center underscored the important 2006 and significant role chemical fertilizers play in increased food production. Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by U.S. President George W. Bush. Other recipients include 2008 Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul I, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela. With son Bill and daughter Jeannie, after his 95th birthday celebration. 2009 Borlaug passes away on Septermber 12, 2009 Dr. Norman Borlaug's partnership with IFDC furthered the Green Revolution by attributing chemical fertilizer as a key element in better food production, alongside improved seed varieties, higher density planting, smart use of available and manufactured irrigation resources and careful management and improvement of soil fertility. IFDC President and CEO Dr. Amit Roy said, "Dr. Borlaug helped guide the organization out of the research laboratory to its field work across the agricultural value chain.we strive to spread the lessons of the Green Revolution to many areas of the world." He noted that Borlaug was "not only a citizen of the world, but one of its bona fide heroes." IFDC SOURCES: Academy of Achievement -A Museum of Living History Borlaug/Courier Films CIMMYT © IFDC 03/14