#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, youth representatives and staff. It is our hope that this blog series will create a conversation between farmers, NGOs, CEOs and people across the globe.
Youth Voices: In the Field - Greetings and Lessons from Anantapur
By Zara Miller posted on
07/22/2024
at 2:42 PM
To kick off July, I spent the past week conducting interviews in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. After five weeks of research, packing, and questionnaire designing, my preparation culminated into four days of focus group discussions and keynote interviews. If there is one lesson that I learned this week it is that...
Youth Voices: Mangoes, the Dixie Chicks, and Gratitude
By Lexi Bodlak posted on
07/08/2024
at 9:51 AM
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.
When the ocean gives you mangoes, you eat them.
Though one is sweet and the other is sour, after a beach day at Manuel Antonio, I can confidently say that both fruits have metaphorically and literally taught me a lesson.
On Friday, Luis Carlos and...
Youth Voices: Heartstrings in Lima - Finding Home
By Saanvi Ram posted on
07/08/2024
at 9:49 AM
Time here dances curiously, blending each day into a rhythm that feels remarkably like home. Just recently, I checked in with a friend from Dubuque who remarked, “You’re settling in,” noting how I refer to my host family’s house as “home.”
So where has this beautiful internship brought me? Let’s retrace...
Youth Voices: Turning Piont
By Khamani Thomas posted on
07/08/2024
at 9:46 AM
This past week has been full of learning and experiences previously unknown to me. As I reach the halfway mark of my internship I start to understand a little more about what I am here to accomplish and what I can do to educate those around me when I return...
Youth Voices: Farm Fiesta
By Lily Hestjean posted on
07/08/2024
at 9:43 AM
It was just another work experience day. I expected to spend the morning upturning compost piles and measuring the height of my lettuce with Fhernando. But when we reached the compost canopy, there were sheep EVERYWHERE, pooping, trampling on the compost, gorging on dried corn cobs, and having the time...
Youth Voices: Experiments, Homemade Food & Royal History
By Riya Kalluvila posted on
07/08/2024
at 9:41 AM
I started the week by devoting all of my attention to my waterlogging project. I took great care to measure and water the plants in the control group so that they received the exact amount each day. Initially, the experimental waterlogging plants did not exhibit any symptoms because Hyderabad’s climate...
Youth Voices: My Second Week at CIMMYT!
By Olivia Marti posted on
07/08/2024
at 9:37 AM
06/29/2024: The Friday night before this I went to the festival of San Juan. This is an old religious tradition where on June 24th every year they celebrate the summer solstice. They celebrate at a church with many dancers and decorate it with flowers and ribbons. There are many dancers...
Youth Voices: The Life-Changing Power of Awe
By Calla Doh posted on
07/08/2024
at 9:33 AM
Faint streaks of fuchsia ribbon through the fading blue sky — the first sunset since I touched down in India over a month ago. Strings of Arabic carved into stone dance over archways of historical mosques. Bubblegum flower petals dot the top of a bonsai tree half the length of...
Youth Voices: What am I doing here? Researching purple lottery tickets.
By Lexi Bodlak posted on
07/02/2024
at 3:08 PM
When I was little, one of my favorite things to do while riding in the car was to create wildly outlandish stories about the people I could see outside my window. That lady with a baseball cap and a poodle? She had just returned from the international poodle breeders conference...
Youth Voices: Seismic Shifts and Scientific Strides
By Saanvi Ram posted on
07/02/2024
at 3:03 PM
As the fourth week of my internship in Lima unfolds, I find myself completely in sync with the city’s vibrant pulse. This connection was abruptly deepened by a jolt — a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake — that seemed to shake not only the ground beneath my feet but also my...