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Norman Borlaug

Origin: Saude, Wisconsin
(March 25, 1914)

Heroic Values: Achievement, Caring, Vision, Wisdom

Background

Norman Borlaug spent his youth working on his family's farm in Wisconsin. He was encouraged by his grandfather to go to college at the University of Minnesota. He studied in the College of Agriculture and left with a Masters Degree in plant pathology and genetics.

With his education and some exposure to the effects of a lack of food, Borlaug got a job as a microbiologist wih DuPont. After World War 2 he went to Mexico to join the Cooperative Wheat Research and Production Program. Through genetically altering wheat to resist disease (among other things) Borlaug radically increased the amount of wheat being grown in Mexico. In response to growing concerns over the ability of India and Pakistan to feed their populations, Borlaug took his work there and was highly successful.

In 1970, Norman Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in saving lives through providing food. In 2006, he was given the congressional gold medal - the highest civilian award in the United States. He is credited with saving the lives of one billion people from starvation - a number not matched by anyone in history.

Sources

Wikipedia
The online encyclopedia

Heritage Foundation
Borlaug's non-profit

Nobelprize.org
Borlaug's biography