Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, often referred to as the “Father of the Green Revolution” in agriculture, will receive the Danforth Award for Plant Science in recognition of his life-long commitment to increasing global agricultural production through plant science. The groundbreaking work by his research team and colleagues from around the world reversed the chronic food shortages suffered by India and Pakistan in the 1960s and led to his 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Borlaug recently received the National Medal of Science, the nation's highest scientific honor, from U.S. President George W. Bush on February 13, 2006, and he was honored by the Government of India on January 26, 2006 with the Padma Vibhushan – India’s second highest national award.

“Dr. Norman Borlaug is a distinguished scientist and agricultural historian with a vision for how technology can directly impact the lives of people of the world. Many of the crops consumed throughout industrialized nations are hybrid strains that were advocated by Dr. Borlaug,” said Dr. Roger N. Beachy, President of the Danforth Center. “His ability to see how planting high-yield crop hybrids, implementing fertilizers and pesticides, and utilizing improved irrigation would dramatically improve the lives of people was revolutionary in the 1950s. Today, it is the foundation upon which plant science is building future innovation.”

The Green Revolution is a term that was coined in 1968 by William Gaud, then director of the U.S. Agency for International Development, to describe the agricultural movement that called for the use of technology to increase agricultural production. Led by Dr. Borlaug, the Green Revolution began in 1945 when the Rockefeller Foundation and the Mexican government established the Cooperative Wheat Research and Production Program to improve Mexican agricultural output by developing improved strains of wheat, rice, maize and other cereals. The program was so successful that Mexico went from importing half its wheat in 1945 to exporting half a million tons of wheat in 1964. Building on the program’s success in Mexico, it was expanded to India and Pakistan in the 1960s and today Green Revolution practices are used throughout the developing world.

“Norman Borlaug has brought more benefit to more people than anyone in my lifetime and shown how science can serve humanity. He is a hero and the role model for us at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center,” said Danforth Center Chairman, Dr. William H. Danforth. “That one man can have such a profound impact on the world is nothing short of overwhelming. It is a pleasure to once again host Dr. Borlaug at the Danforth Center, and a true honor to recognize his incredibly important lifetime of achievement.”

Dr. Borlaug’s return to the Danforth Center is a homecoming of sorts, as he joined former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in July of 1998 to celebrate the founding and launch of the Danforth Center, and returned in February 2002 to view the completed construction of the Danforth Center building.

The public is invited to hear Dr. Borlaug present a lecture entitled “From the Green to the Gene Revolution: Our 21st Century Challenge” on February 21, 2006 at 4PM in the SBC Auditorium at the Danforth Center. Prior to the start of his presentation he will be presented with the Danforth Award for Plant Science. The Danforth Award for Plant Science recognizes a prominent national or international leader for outstanding achievement and service in the conduct and/or advocacy of science for the benefit of agriculture, food, nutrition or human health. Previous recipients include Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton, Principal Syngenta Fellow at Syngenta Biotechnology Inc., Dr. Ernie Jaworski, former Interim President of the Danforth Center, and Dr. Peter H. Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Individuals interested in attending the February 21 lecture and awards presentation should call 314/587-1070 to make reservations.

Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a global vision to improve the human condition. Research at the Danforth Center will enhance the nutritional content of plants to improve human health, increase agricultural production to create a sustainable food supply, and build scientific capacity to generate economic growth in the St. Louis region and throughout Missouri.

Photo: USDA FAS