Dr. Norman Borlaug

The man who saved a billion lives

Dr. Norman Borlaug standing in a Mexican wheat field with a group of biologists
Dr. Norman Borlaug (third from left) trains biologists in Mexico on how to increase wheat yields — part of his lifelong war on hunger.

Life & Achievements

1914 Born in Cresco, Iowa
1933 Leaves family farm to attend University of Minnesota
1935 Works in the Civilian Conservation Corps, helping starving Americans
1937 Graduates university, joins US Forestry Service
1938 Marries Margret Gibson, returns to study pest-resistant plants
1942 Earns Ph.D. in Genetics & Plant Pathology
1944 Moves to Mexico, leads program breeding 6,000 wheat strains
1953 Develops dwarf, high-yield wheat strain feeding 95% of Mexico
1962 Introduces high-yield wheat to India, preventing famine
1970 Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
1983 Helps seven African nations increase food yields
1984 Becomes professor at Texas A&M
2005 Warns global food supply must double by 2050, advocates GM crops
2009 Passes away at age 95

“Borlaug’s life and achievement are testimony to the far-reaching contribution that one man’s towering intellect, persistence and scientific vision can make to human peace and progress.”

— Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Learn more about this remarkable man on his Wikipedia entry.