Agricultural scientist who developed high-yield dwarf wheat varieties, sparking the Green Revolution — credited with saving more than a billion people from starvation.
The Green Revolution: Borlaug developed semi-dwarf wheat varieties that were both high-yielding and resistant to lodging (falling over), combined with improved fertilization and irrigation — multiplying grain yields in Mexico, India, and Pakistan. India went from perpetual famine threat to wheat exporter in a decade. Nobel Peace Prize (1970). His work represents the 'Wizard' optimism that technology can defeat Malthusian limits. Estimated to have saved 1 billion lives — possibly more than any individual in history.
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