COLLEGE STATION, Texas On the day a man credited with saving millions of lives worldwide would have turned 100, officials in Washington dedicated a statue in his honor.
Dr. Norman Borlaug is widely regarded as America's greatest agricultural scientist, but it's a name many outside the agricultural industry don't recognize.
"His main accomplishments were in wheat," said Director of Texas A&M Agrilife Research, Craig Nessler.
Among his works, Borlaug developed a wheat that could hold more grain, and was resistant to diseases. Nessler said that design impacted millions of people.
"So when he went to countries like India, Mexico and Pakistan, they were food importers," said Nessler. "And by the time his work was finished, they were exporting food to other parts of the world."
For his contributions to the world food supply, Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Congressional Gold Medal, and several other prestigious awards.
"As you get older, the one thing you realize is that you have to make a difference. And he made a difference," said Nessler.
Dr. Borlaug started working at Texas A&M University in 1984, at the age of 70. He worked there until his death in 2009.
"Because he lived such a long life, he contributed a lot to this university during the time he was here," said Nessler.
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