What is in this article?:
- Borlaug's work significantly improved agriculture in developing nations
- Challenge to feed ever-growing population continues
- Borlaug's impact on global food security can't be overstated
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World food day
The Agricola Medal was presented to Borlaug in conjunction with World Food Day, celebrated each year on Oct. 16. According to World Food Day materials, the day is “a worldwide event designed to increase awareness, understanding and informed, year-around action to alleviate hunger.” It is observed annually on that date in recognition of the founding of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. The first World Food Day was observed in 1981.
“This is the 30th observance of World Food Day and I am especially proud to have been here to share in the posthumous presentation of this award to one of the world’s great humanitarians,” says Ed Price, director of the Borlaug Institute, who was in Rome for the conference and presentation.
Price noted that it was approximately one year ago that Borlaug passed away and that few if any people in history had done as much to promote world peace through agriculture.
“Most of us in the international agriculture community feel Norm’s impact – past, present and future – on improving the world’s security by improving global food security cannot be overstated,” he says.
Previous recipients of the Agricola Medal include King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand; French President Jacques Chirac; Chinese President Jiang Zemin; Pope John Paul II; President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt; the prime ministers of Spain and Turkey and India; President Johannes Rau of Germany and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization is based in Rome, as are two other United Nations agencies addressing agricultural development and hunger alleviation – the World Food Program and the International Fund for Agriculture Development.
