Dr. Norman Borlaug
The Man Who Saved A Billion Lives
Biography
1914
Born in Cresco, Iowa
1933
Leaves family farm to attend the University of Minnesota
1937
Finishes university and takes a job in the US Forestry Service
1938
Marries wife of 69 years Margret Gibson
1944
Begins work in Mexico on plant pathology and wheat breeding
Key Achievements
Nobel Peace Prize
Awarded in 1970 for his contributions to world peace through increasing food supply.
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Received in 1977, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
Green Revolution
Led initiatives worldwide that contributed to extensive increases in agricultural production.
"The first essential component of social justice is adequate food for all mankind."
Legacy
Dr. Norman Borlaug's work in agriculture has been credited with saving over a billion lives. His development of high-yielding varieties of cereal grains, expansion of irrigation infrastructure, and modernization of management techniques transformed agricultural production in Mexico, Pakistan, and India. This work laid the foundation for the Green Revolution and continues to impact global food security today.
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