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Dr. Norman Borlaug seen standing in Mexican wheat field with a group of biologists

Timelline of Dr. N0rman Bolaug

1904

Born in Cresco,
Iowa

1933

Leaves his family's farm to attend the University of Minnesota, thanks to a Depression era program known as the "National Youth Administration"

1935

Has to stop school and save up more money. Works in the Civilian Conservation Corps, helping starving Americans. "I saw how food changed them", he said. "All of this left scars on me."

1937

Finishes university and takes a job in the US Forestry Service

1938

Marries wife of 69 years Margret Gibson. Gets laid off due to budget cuts. Inspired by Elvin Charles Stakman, he returns to school study under Stakman, who teaches him about breeding pest-resistent plants.

1941

Tries to enroll in the military after the Pearl Harbor attack, but is rejected. Instead, the military asked his lab to work on waterproof glue, DDT to control malaria, disinfectants, and other applied science.

1942

Receives a Ph.D. in Genetics
and Plant Pathology

1944

Rejects a 100% salary increase from Dupont, leaves behind his pregnant wife, and flies to Mexico to head a new plant pathology program. Over the next 16 years, his team breeds 6,000 different strains of disease resistent wheat - including different varieties for each major climate on Earth.

1945

Discovers a way to grown wheat twice each season, doubling wheat yields

1953

crosses a short, sturdy dwarf breed of wheat with a high-yeidling American breed, creating a strain that responds well to fertilizer. It goes on to provide 95% of Mexico's wheat.

1962

Visits Delhi and brings his high-yielding strains of wheat to the Indian subcontinent in time to help mitigate mass starvation due to a rapidly expanding population

1970

receives
the Nobel Peace Prize

1983

helps seven African countries dramatically increase their maize and sorghum yields

1984

becomes a distinguished professor at Texas A&M University

2009

dies at
the age of 95.

Borlaug's life and achievement are testimony to the far-reaching contribution that one man's towering intellect, persistence and scientific vision can make to human peace and progress.

-- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

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