#BorlaugBlog
For 30 years, the World Food Prize has worked to build on the legacy of Dr. Norman Borlaug, the man who saved a billion lives, by recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. Our Laureates, our close partners, and our staff work tirelessly to alleviate hunger through innovative approaches, and we hope to share their expertise, research, and personal stories on The Borlaug Blog.
In the Borlaug Blog, we will occasionally post a blog featuring stories, research, and expert opinion from our Laureates, partners, and staff. It is our hope that this blog series will create a conversation between farmers, NGOs, CEOs and people across the globe.
In the Tradition of Norm Borlaug: Rising to the Challenge of African Food Security
By Ismail Serageldin posted on
08/12/2019
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As we observe the 10th anniversary of the passing of Norman Borlaug, father of the Green Revolution and committed warrior against hunger, we can honor his memory by rising to the unique challenge posed by African food security. Demographic forecasts see African population growth continuing throughout the century. To deal...
My Path to the World Food Prize
By Abigail Dowd posted on
08/05/2019
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Reflecting on my summer experience as a 2019 World Food Prize George Washington Carver Intern, I think about the path that led me to the Foundation. I am grateful for the road that led me to such a rewarding summer learning experience and would have never imagined ten years ago...
The Power of “Borlaug-like Persistence”
By Ellie Miglin posted on
07/29/2019
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During my junior and senior year, I never expected to be interning with an internationally renowned foundation, nor did I think that my experience here would be the most influential internship when deciding what I would want to pursue in college. However, my experience at the World Food Prize has...
On the Byte
By Joachim von Braun posted on
07/22/2019
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Agriculture is an ancient profession. It is also the frontier of modernization and innovation. Over the centuries, agriculture has gone through several stages of reform, including mechanization, the Green Revolution – led by Dr. Norman Borlaug -- and precision farming. Each of these has significantly transformed the way that our...
Virginia Tech: A Global Land-Grant University Serving the World
By Timothy Sands posted on
07/15/2019
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Greetings from Virginia Tech! I look forward to representing the university on a panel at the Borlaug Dialogue this fall and sharing the story of our faculty and students who are improving food and nutrition security, protecting natural resources, and supporting economic growth around the world.
Established in 1872, Virginia...
Going Beyond the Seed and Toward Big Impact
By Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins posted on
07/08/2019
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The 2018 Borlaug Dialogue celebrated the global health and nutrition achievements of World Food Prize Laureates Lawrence Haddad and David Nabarro. I was invited to join one of the nutrition panels, and, in my remarks, I stated that these two global health leaders had transformed the nutrition landscape and the...
For the Good of Africa, and the World
By Jennifer Blanke posted on
07/01/2019
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I was in the House Chamber of the Iowa State Capitol when African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina was named the 46th World Food Prize Laureate in 2017.
Seeing the President receive the prize created by Dr. Norman Borlaug in 1986 – the same year that Dr. Borlaug first...
Making a Difference One Step at a Time
By Geoff Andersen posted on
06/24/2019
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It’s a walk I’ve never forgotten. Its length was short, but the impact was immense.
I was in rural central Kenya, and had just finished touring a small maize and livestock farm with a middle-aged farmer I had come to know. Before I could leave he stopped me, being sure to...
A Vegetable Revolution
By Simon Groot posted on
06/17/2019
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When I first visited Southeast Asia many years ago, it pained me to see so many small farmers struggling to make a living. Commercial vegetable breeding was all but unknown in the tropics, and many farmers were having a hard time growing a good crop with the low-quality, poorly adapted...
The Founder of a Family Business Dedicated to Vegetable Seeds for the Tropics Wins the 2019 World Food Prize
By Louise O. Fresco posted on
06/10/2019
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Today, the World Food Prize Foundation announced Simon N. Groot from the Netherlands as the recipient of the 2019 World Food Prize, for his dedication to bringing good quality vegetable seeds to smallholder farmers in tropical countries and making a significant contribution to both economic and dietary improvement.
Inspired by...