"American Superhero" Norman Borlaug Awarded Congressional Gold Medal

Ronald Bailey | December 11, 2006

Very good news.  As I hoped, the lame ducks in Congress came through and voted to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and plant breeder Norman Borlaug. The AP reports:

Borlaug, 92, is a native of Cresco [Iowa]. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for creating varieties of wheat suitable for developing countries that doubled and tripled yields and were resistant to disease. His work helped fight starvation in countries such as India and Pakistan.

Dr. Borlaug is responsible for saving a billion lives around the world," said U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa. "It is extraordinarily important that we recognize this great humanitarian."

Latham called Borlaug an "American superhero" who "completely altered agriculture as we know it." 

Whole article here. Congressional commendation here. Reason interview with Borlaug here.

Hearty congratulations to Dr. Borlaug for this richly deserved award.