In Memoriam
I just read that Norman Borlaug died yesterday.
If y'all want to know about an amazing scientist--a true humanitarian, and just a great, great man, he's someone you should study. A Nobel Laureate, he's best known as the Father of the Green Revolution, and is credited with literally saving millions and millions of people (some estimates say upwards of 254 million!) from starvation by developing high-yield crops. I've had people ask me before why I study plants, why I don't do "something more worthwhile" like work on how to cure cancer or some virus or something that "directly affects people". They ask why studying a plant that's just used as animal feed in this country is important.*
Read about Dr Borlaug, and you'll know why.
I'm honored to say that I've met him. I gave him a tour of our greenhouses, even (our building is named after him, as are hundreds of others world-wide). In fact, I think he's holding one of my Sorghum plants in the picture in this article (that looks like my greenhouse, and I know there were publicity shots done in our greenhouse, and more than once). He was really just a neat, neat man, easy to talk to, very genuine, and very passionate about his cause.
The world is a better place because of him.
Rest in peace, Dr. Borlaug. You will be missed.
*For the record, while Sorghum is mostly just used as animal feed in America, it's the fourth most important human food crop world-wide, after corn, wheat, and rice.
If y'all want to know about an amazing scientist--a true humanitarian, and just a great, great man, he's someone you should study. A Nobel Laureate, he's best known as the Father of the Green Revolution, and is credited with literally saving millions and millions of people (some estimates say upwards of 254 million!) from starvation by developing high-yield crops. I've had people ask me before why I study plants, why I don't do "something more worthwhile" like work on how to cure cancer or some virus or something that "directly affects people". They ask why studying a plant that's just used as animal feed in this country is important.*
Read about Dr Borlaug, and you'll know why.
I'm honored to say that I've met him. I gave him a tour of our greenhouses, even (our building is named after him, as are hundreds of others world-wide). In fact, I think he's holding one of my Sorghum plants in the picture in this article (that looks like my greenhouse, and I know there were publicity shots done in our greenhouse, and more than once). He was really just a neat, neat man, easy to talk to, very genuine, and very passionate about his cause.
The world is a better place because of him.
Rest in peace, Dr. Borlaug. You will be missed.
*For the record, while Sorghum is mostly just used as animal feed in America, it's the fourth most important human food crop world-wide, after corn, wheat, and rice.