AN INTERVIEWWITH NORMAN BORLAUG

This summer, thanks to efforts of the College’s longtime supporter RichardBeahrs (see sidebar, next page), students, faculty, and staff heard lectures from 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner NormanBorlaug

Borlaug is best known for developing high-yield, diseaseresistant varieties of wheat byadvanced agronomic methods that together became known as the Green Revolution. Mexico and manydeveloping countries on the Indian subcontinent and parts of Asia used these varieties to save millions of their people from starving.

With former president JimmyCarter, Borlaug also leads the Sasakawa-Global 2000 program, which is developing appropriate technologyto increase crop production in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He also founded the World Food Prize, the highest international honor bestowed upon an individual for achievements in improving the world’s food supplyand reducing hunger. Former Berkeleyvisiting professor PedroSanchez and the late RaySmith, professor of entomology,are World Food Prize recipients.

But Borlaug’s greatest lifelong contribution has been as an educator. He has trained scores of young scientists worldwide. He continues teaching todayin both Mexico and at Texas A&M University.

Borlaug’s manyaccolades include the Presidential Medal of Freedom and more than 50 honorarydegrees from universities around the world.

Borlaug and his colleague ChrisDowswell came to Berkeleythis summer to speak to participants in the Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program. This summer certificate course, sponsored by the College of Natural Resources’Center for Sustainable Resource Development, brings together mid-career environmental professionals from around the world to tackle complex environmental management issues. The program began in 2000 with a generous gift from Cal alumni Richard and CarolynBeahrs

While Borlaug was here, CNR’s Dean PaulLudden spoke with him about his life and the educational needs of the next generation of scientists that will address the task of feeding the world’s growing population.