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Norman E. Borlaug (1914-) was born in the small Norwegian-American
community of Saude, near Cresco in Iowa. He grew up on his father's small
grain and livestock farm, and attended a one-teacher one-room schoolhouse
for eight grades. After graduating from Cresco High School he studied at
the University of Minnesota where he earned B.S. in forestry (1937), M.S.
in forest pathology (1941) and Ph.D. in plant pathology and genetics (1942).
After three years of research work at E.I. du Pont de Nemours in Delaware,
Dr. Borlaug joined the Rockefeller Foundation cooperative project with the
Mexican Ministry of Agriculture as head of the wheat research and improvement
program. In 1966 his "Quiet Revolution in Wheat Improvement" created
world around interest and the Rockefeller and Ford foundations, in cooperation
with the Government of Mexico, established the International Maize and Wheat
Improvement Center (CIMMYT) at El Batan near Mexico City. In 1970 he was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his "Green Revolution" which
helped Pakistan, India and a number of other countries improve their food
production. Since then he has continued working tirelessly in saving millions
from starvation and suffering. He has been honored with about forty honorary
doctorate degrees and numerous awards by governments, academic institutions
and citizens' groups around the world.
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