"There has been great progress. Food is more equitably distributed," he said. "(But) we still have about 84 million more people added to the world population each year and unfortunately most ... are in countries that are already food deficit or marginal with a lot of poverty and illiteracy."
That's why agriculture with its ability to yield increasingly higher amounts of food must go hand-in-hand with efforts to educate the masses, he said.
"Speaking on behalf of A&M's 55,000 students, faculty and staff, I congratulate Dr. Borlaug on being selected for this signal honor -- one of many he has so deservedly received during his long and illustrious career. We are fortunate, indeed, to have him on our faculty and look forward to having the university continue to benefit from his vital work and its highly positive worldwide impact, particularly in helping feed hungry people in some of the regions most in need," said Dr. Robert M. Gates, Texas A&M president.
"I hope the (the Medal of Science) honor calls attention to the large and ongoing problem," Borlaug said.
The award will be presented to Borlaug and six other recipients at a later date.
Two other Texas A&M faculty members have received this award: Dr. F. Albert Cotton, distinguished professor of chemistry, 1982; and, Dr. George Bass, distinguished emeritus professor of anthropology, 2001.
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Contact: Kathleen Phillips
ka-phillips@tamu.edu
979-845-2872
Texas A&M University - Agricultural Communications
18-Nov-2005