Borlaug, Norman Ernest

Borlaug, Norman Ernest (bôr'lôg) [key], 1914–, U.S. agronomist, b. Cresco, Iowa, grad. Univ. of Minn. (Ph.D., 1942). He worked as researcher with the E. I. du Pont Company until 1944, when he joined the Rockefeller Foundation in Mexico. He became a director at the Foundation and headed a team of scientists from 17 nations experimenting with improvement of grains. In 1970 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to eradicate hunger and build international prosperity. His “green revolution,” which involves the use of improved wheat seed, new types of higher-yield rice, and more efficient use of fertilizer and water, has provided larger food crops in many of the less-developed countries of the Middle East and Latin America. Borlaug is credited with Mexico's self-sufficiency in wheat production. He founded (1986) the World Food Prize to recognize contributions to fields involved in the world food supply. Borlaug has taught at Texas A&M Univ. since 1984.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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