March 24, 2011

CHICAGO – The state of Iowa will honor the late Dr. Norman E. Borlaug with a statue in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall. Borlaug, a prominent agricultural scientist at Texas A&M University and member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

Borlaug, known to many as the "Father of the Green Revolution," is credited with saving an estimated 1 billion lives with his advances in wheat science. He also founded the World Food Prize, which has been called the "Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture" and which aims to inspire additional achievements in improving the quality, quantity and availability of food in the world.

"This is truly a historic occasion," said Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad. "Dr. Borlaug's legacy in feeding a billion people marks him as one of Iowa's and America's greatest heroes. Having his statue in our nation's Capitol will ensure that his legacy endures."

The Iowa Legislature approved with bipartisan support a resolution March 22 that will exchange one of the Iowa's two current statues – both of which depict 19th century politicians – with a statue of Borlaug. Branstad signed the bill March 23.

Former President Jimmy Carter said that Borlaug was committed to alleviating hunger and improving food production technologies that have saved millions of lives. "One day the advancements he shepherded may end our global hunger crisis. I have experienced first-hand the reverence that thousands of Africans have for Dr. Borlaug's untiring efforts to relieve their hunger. His compassion and humanity will continue to inspire generations to come. Dr. Borlaug is a hero, and his contributions to the field of science and the cause of peace were immeasurable," Carter said, in one of many tributes after Borlaug's death in September 2009.

During his distinguished career, Borlaug was known for improving crop production throughout the world, particularly in Central and South America, Africa and Asia. He developed high-yielding wheat varieties, credited with reducing famine. "His work saved hundreds of millions of lives, and today half the world eats grains descended from his plants," Time magazine reported. Time had also named him one of the "100 most influential minds of the 20th century."

Several other honors were bestowed on Borlaug during his life, including the National Medal of Science in 2004 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2006. He was honored by foreign governments and was awarded more than 50 honorary degrees.

Born in Saude, Iowa, Borlaug was raised and baptized in the Lutheran church. March 25 would have been Borlaug's 97th birthday.

Information about Norman Borlaug and the World Food Prize is at http://www.worldfoodprize.org/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service