13 September 2009. Norman Borlaug, the father of the "Green Revolution" who is widely credited with saving more than a billion lives by breeding wheat, rice and other crops that brought agricultural self-sufficiency to developing countries around the world, died Saturday 12th September in Texas. He was 95.FARA and Dr. Monty Jones wishes to express their deepest gratitude.
All of us who are left on this crowded planet, and generations yet to come, have reason to be grateful to Norman Borlaug. By his own work, and by the inspiration he gave to so many others, he improved the lives of everyone. Agriculturalists will forever be aware that we could and should achieve so much more and that our determination to do what needs to be done must not be overcome by fear of controversy.
Norman Borlaug in his Nobel acceptance speech taught us that honours should be accepted with humility and in the understanding that they carry with them even greater responsibility to lead by example. Those of us who were privileged to meet him in his later years can testify that he never wavered from meeting that responsibility and to the effectiveness of his unfaltering advocacy for the causes he believed in.
On behalf of all African and non-African stakeholders in African agricultural research and development, and on my personal behalf, I ask his family and friends and the people of the United States of America to accept our condolences and thanks for a life well lived. We will be forever grateful.
Monty Jones
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Monty Jones, PhD, DSc; 2004 World Food Prize Laureate
Norman Borlaug, the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, looks over some sorghum tests in this 1996 file photo taken in a Texas A&M University greenhouse in College Station, Texas. (Bill Meeks, Associated Press / October 30, 1996)
References:
BBC news 13 Sept 2009 Agriculture pioneer Borlaug dies
Los Angelas times 13 Sept 2009 Norman Borlaug dies at 95; started 'Green Revolution' and won Nobel Peace Prize
Dr. Norman Borlaug talks about world hunger
Green Revolution Leader Still Wages War on World Hunger
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03 Nov 2007 the world food prize youth program
03 Nov 2007 biofuels and biofoods: the global implications of emerging ...
23 Nov 2007 the man who fed the world: more on norman borlaug
03 Dec 2007 highlight: the global rust initiative
10 Jun 2009 Monsanto Company Commits $10 Million to Rice and Wheat Research ...
