Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply. Norman Borlaug More Quotes by Norman Borlaug More Quotes From Norman Borlaug To this day, I enjoy nature, the luxury of undisturbed wilderness, forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and deserts and their wildlife. But I also know that the greatest danger to their perpetuity is the pressure of human population. Norman Borlaug luxury lakes rivers Plant diseases, drought, desolation, despair were recurrent catastrophes during the ages - and the ancient remedies: supplications to supernatural spirits or gods. Norman Borlaug despair disease age There can be no permanent progress in the battle against hunger until the agencies that fight for increased food production and those that fight for population control unite in a common effort. Norman Borlaug population-problem agency fighting The destiny of world civilization depends upon providing a decent standard of living for all mankind. Norman Borlaug fate destiny civilization Cereal production in the rain-fed areas still remains relatively unaffected by the impact of the green revolution, but significant change and progress are now becoming evident in several countries Norman Borlaug cereal rain country We are 6.6 billion people now. We can only feed 4 billion. I don't see 2 billion volunteers to disappear. Norman Borlaug disappear volunteer people Contrasting sharply, in the developing countries represented by India, Pakistan, and most of the countries in Asia and Africa, seventy to eighty percent of the population is engaged in agriculture, mostly at the subsistence level. Norman Borlaug agriculture india country During the past three years spectacular progress has been made in increasing wheat, rice, and maize production in several of the most populous developing countries of southern Asia, where widespread famine appeared inevitable only five years ago Norman Borlaug country past years When wheat is ripening properly, when the wind is blowing across the field, you can hear the beards of the wheat rubbing together. They sound like the pine needles in a forest. It is a sweet, whispering music that once you hear, you never forget. Norman Borlaug you music together sweet It's amazing how often campaigners in rich countries think poor people don't get backache. Norman Borlaug amazing think rich people When the Nobel Peace Prize Committee designated me the recipient of the 1970 award for my contribution to the 'green revolution,' they were in effect, I believe, selecting an individual to symbolize the vital role of agriculture and food production in a world that is hungry, both for bread and for peace. Norman Borlaug me green food peace The lack of roads in Africa greatly hinders agriculture, education, and development. Norman Borlaug roads africa agriculture education If some consumers believe that it's better from the point of view of their health to have organic food, God bless them. Let them buy it. Let them pay a bit more. Norman Borlaug health god food believe Central African farmers don't have any animal power because sleeping sickness kills all the animals - cattle, the horses, the burros and the mules. So draft animals don't exist, and farming is all by hand, and the hand tools are hoes and machetes. Norman Borlaug farmers sickness power animal Water covers about 70 percent of the Earth's surface. Of this total, only about 2.5 percent is fresh water, and most of this is frozen in the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland, in soil moisture, or in deep aquifers not readily accessible for human use. Norman Borlaug fresh deep earth water In future irrigation schemes, water drainage and removal systems should be budgeted from the start of the project. Unfortunately, adding such costs to the original project often will result in a poor return on investment. Society then will have to decide how much it is willing to subsidize new irrigation development. Norman Borlaug result future society water Nevertheless, the number of farmers, small as well as large, who are adopting the new seeds and new technology is increasing very rapidly, and the increase in numbers during the past three years has been phenomenal. Norman Borlaug new small technology past If people want to believe that the organic food has better nutritive value, it's up to them to make that foolish decision. But there's absolutely no research that shows that organic foods provide better nutrition. Norman Borlaug decision food believe people We will be guilty of criminal negligence, without extenuation, if we permit future famines. Norman Borlaug without will future guilty Pricing water delivery closer to its real costs is a necessary step to improving use efficiency. Norman Borlaug step efficiency real water
