#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.
Achieving Food Security and Nutrition (SDG2) calls for a multi-sectoral approach going beyond food production
By Uma Lele posted on
01/22/2018
at 9:01 AM
I had the pleasure of working with Norman Borlaug and President Carter in the Sasakawa program in Africa. As a student of Indian Agriculture, of course I have seen Borlaug’s large footprint on Indian agriculture, which became the cradle of the Green Revolution. Not only did he introduce new hybrid...
Mentored by Greatness
By Dr. Ronnie Coffman posted on
01/15/2018
at 12:21 PM
Ronnie Coffman
When a person is mentored by greatness, it changes them for life. That is what happened to me under Dr. Norman E. Borlaug.
In 1967, I arrived at Cornell University from the University of Kentucky as a 24-year-old Ph.D. student in the plant breeding department. Soon afterwards, I was offered...
A Noble (and Nobel) Legacy of Inspiring Young Leaders
By Keegan Kautzky posted on
01/08/2018
at 8:00 AM
Keegan Kautzky
At the very first World Food Prize Youth Institute, there were just 12 students…and three Nobel Peace Prize Laureates!
Norman Borlaug, Jimmy Carter and Muhammad Yunus spent the day listening to the students’ ideas, discussing their solutions, and offering them advice on how to tackle the world’s toughest challenges.
Three of...
Why the Quality of Food Matters in Combating Hunger
By Jan Low posted on
01/02/2018
at 8:00 AM
Dr. Jan Low
When one sees pictures of starving children in Yemen or the multitudes of refugees walking long distances with clearly limited resources, the first and appropriate reaction is to get enough calories to these stricken individuals so that they can survive and not feel the pangs of severe hunger....
Turning livestock herders into citizen-scientists: the mobile phone leapfrog into the information age
By Dr. Andrew Mude posted on
12/26/2017
at 8:00 AM
Andrew Mude
Upon first sight, the Samburu pastoralists of Northern Kenya may not look too different than they did generations ago. The men still drape colorful blanket-like cloths across their torsos and loins as their principle attire and carry a spear in one hand with a short sword strapped to their...
Hungry Bellies and Silent Killers: Why both Quantity and Quality Matter in Food Security
By Charity Mutegi posted on
12/18/2017
at 9:50 AM
What do you look for at the market or the grocery store? Do you seek out food that offers good value for money or the best taste? Would you rather have a large helping or a dish that looks appealing? Amongst all these decisions we grapple with, one thing is...
What Innovations in Food Production Are Likely to Have Significant Impact in the Next Decade?
By Dr. Robert Mwanga posted on
12/11/2017
at 9:37 AM
Dr. Robert Mwanga
“Innovations in food production” is a broad topic. These innovations are diverse and hold immense potential in addressing hunger in the world, but the main critical factors to significantly impact planet earth in the next decade must be considered first. We must immediately prioritize innovating factors likely to...
Borlaug-Ruan Intern Finds Inspiration in India
By Lisa Fleming posted on
12/04/2017
at 9:50 AM
Lisa Fleming
“It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done but the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.” Thus started my recent conversation with Edwin Belton Moore - a World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Intern Alumnus from North Carolina – as he reflected on his 2015 summer internship...
The Role of Technology in Achieving Global Food Security
By Dr. Maria Andrade posted on
11/27/2017
at 9:58 AM
Dr. Maria Andrade
Global food security implies that all people throughout the world, including vulnerable groups such as the rural and urban poor, at all times have access to adequate quantities of safe and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. Food security is a right that should be...
Youth Engagement for Sustainable Intensification in Africa
By Dr. Zach Stewart posted on
11/20/2017
at 12:08 PM
Dr. Zach Stewart
Growing up on a farm in Southwest Iowa, I had already fallen in love with agriculture, but had no understanding of agriculture’s importance to the world, global stability and peace and the livelihood of the poor. Like many young students heading to college, I wanted to study a...