Today is the birthday of Norman Borlaug, who saved a billion lives by enabling the world to produce radically more food.
Borlaug’s work in developing new crops to feed the world’s hungry in places like Mexico and India earned him a Nobel Peace Prize, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a Congressional Gold Medal, even though his work was seldom mentioned by the press. Science writer Ronald Bailey notes that Borlaug “saved more human lives than any other” person in history.
Borlaug was attacked by some on the anti-science left, such as a writer in The Nation magazine, because he was a staunch defender of new agricultural technologies and genetic engineering to feed the Earth’s burgeoning population.
As chemist Simon Maechling explains, Borlaug is
credited with saving a billion people from starvation. How? By changing the way we grow food forever. Here’s the story of the man behind the Green Revolution.
Let’s start with the problem he faced: In the mid-20th century, global hunger was a ticking time bomb:
- Populations were booming.
- Food production couldn’t keep up.
- Famine threatened millions in developing countries like India and Mexico.
The world needed a miracle.
Enter Norman Borlaug: A plant scientist from Iowa, Borlaug had a vision: • Develop high-yield, disease-resistant crops. • Teach farmers to use fertilizers, irrigation, and modern farming practices. He focused on wheat – a staple crop for billions.
His breakthrough? In the 1940s, Borlaug bred a new type of wheat:
- Dwarf varieties that didn’t collapse under the weight of their grain.
- Resistant to diseases like rust.
- Adaptable to various climates.
The results were astonishing:
Farmers could grow 2-3x more wheat per hectare. The impact was global:
- In Mexico, wheat production soared, turning the country into a net exporter.
- In India, Borlaug’s wheat averted massive famines.
By 1970 hundreds of millions of people were saved from starvation. He combined science with education to ensure long-term success. The numbers don’t lie. These innovations: Saved over 1 billion people from hunger….What can we learn from Borlaug today? Innovation in agriculture is essential for feeding a growing population. Science and technology – like GMOs and CRISPR – are vital tools….Borlaug isn’t just a scientist – he’s a hero.
