Norman Borlaug, Founder of the Green Revolution, Dies at age 95

by Susan Davis on 14/09/09 at 8:37 am

Farming Pioneer

Often called the “Father of the Green Revolution” for his role in combating world hunger, U.S. agricultural scientist Norman Borlaug died over the weekend from complications from cancer.  The death of the 95-year old pioneer in crop development was announced by Texas A&M University in College Station, where he served as a distinguished professor of international agriculture.

Borlaug is credited for introducing genetically modified wheat and accelerated growing techniques to the agricultural community, saving more than one billion people from certain starvation.  Because of his contributions that made food more readily available to impoverished nations, he became the central figure in the expansion of the agriculture movement that allowed food production to keep pace with population growth.  Borlaug’s genetically unique strains of semi dwarf wheat, and later rice, elevated food yields as much as six fold in third world nations in South America, Asia and Africa.

In 1970, Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his research and contributions to increasing crop yields.  In 2007, he was a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

A man with a heart of gold and a tenacious work ethic, Borlaug is credited for helping make developing countries such as India and Pakistan become self-sufficient and turn into economic successes in the world marketplace.  There are uncountable numbers of people in the world today who are alive because of Borlaug’s commitment to feeding the hungry.

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