Science and technology have profoundly transformed our lives. Through systematic observation and experimentation, mankind has learned to understand, predict, and modify nature for its benefit. This capability has resulted in tools, products, and processes that meet our needs, recognizing milestones such as the printing press, the telegraph, the automobile, the airplane, and the digital age. However, there is one sector whose humanitarian impact is immense, and which receives less recognition: biotechnology.

Biotechnology applies knowledge of the genes, proteins, and cells of living organisms to solve pressing health, environmental, and food safety challenges. Today, it is critical to fight global hunger. Biotechnology enables the development of crops that are resistant to pests and diseases, reduces dependence on pesticides, enriches food with essential nutrients, and optimizes production in adverse conditions such as drought. At its core, biotechnology embodies a humanitarian mission: to ensure the universal right to safe, sufficient, and nutritious food.

Science, when oriented towards human needs, is an act of empathy and solidarity. It is a service to the common good. It is therefore essential to recognize and disseminate the legacy of scientists who have dedicated their knowledge to humanity. One of the most inspiring examples is the work and life of Dr. Norman Borlaug, known as the “Father of the Green Revolution.”

Dr. Norman Borlaug: Science at the Service of Humanity

Born into a rural family in Iowa, USA, from Norwegian descent, Borlaug’s early life was marked by hard work in the fields and encouragement from his grandfather, who told him, “Norman, you’d better fill your head now so you can fill your belly later”. Despite initial setbacks in gaining admission to the university, Borlaug persevered, eventually earning a doctorate, and embarking on a career that would change world agriculture.

In the mid-20th century, Borlaug joined a project led by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Government of Mexico to improve crop yields. He and his family accepted to leave the comfort of the United States to work in difficult rural conditions abroad, where he faced precarious infrastructure, limited resources, and resistance from farmers. His decision reflects a deep commitment to solving humanity’s problems on a global scale: moving to a country he had not visited before, without speaking the local language, using his energy and knowledge to solve a problem outside of his native land.

Through tireless experimentation, Borlaug and his team developed wheat varieties that are resistant to rust, a devastating fungus. He pioneered large-scale crossbreeding, introduced robust, low-stemmed wheat capable of withstanding intensive fertilization, and implemented continuous planting cycles in different regions to accelerate results. These innovations transformed wheat production in Mexico and subsequently he personally led the dissemination of these innovations to India, Pakistan, Turkey, Nigeria, China, and other countries, helping to prevent mass starvation and saving millions of lives. For this work, Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, among many other accolades he has received.

A legacy of collaboration and impact

Borlaug’s approach was not only technical, but deeply humanitarian. He generously shared knowledge, trained local scientists, and collaborated with governments and institutions. Their efforts led to the creation of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico, which remains a global benchmark in agricultural research. His influence spread to Canada, Europe, Africa, and Asia, where his methods strengthened research institutions, trained generations of scientists, and improved food security. During all these efforts, Dr. Borlaug and his team had to go through obstacles such as bureaucratic, economic, and logistical procedures, but their perseverance and tenacity allowed them to materialize their vision.

In 1963, Dr. Borlaug visited India at the invitation of Dr. Swaminathan, then a member of the Indian Institute of Agricultural Research (IARI) wheat program. It supplied seeds of high-yielding semi-dwarf Mexican wheat varieties. Test plots were established at IARI in New Delhi and elsewhere. Initial yields were significantly higher than those of locally grown varieties, encouraging farmers in Punjab and Haryana to quickly adopt the new methods. The varieties, combined with the use of irrigation, chemical fertilizers, and modern farming techniques (part of a holistic approach championed by Dr. Borlaug and Indian scientists), led to a dramatic increase in wheat production. Wheat yields in India nearly doubled between 1965 and 1970.

The Government of India subsequently instituted a Norman Borlaug Chair in Agricultural Biotechnology for Crop Improvement at IARI to honor his contributions. Dr. Borlaug worked closely with scientists and various institutes under the umbrella of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), including the Directorate of Wheat Research and state agricultural universities. His statue was unveiled inside ICAR’s National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC) in New Delhi in 2013.

Another prominent example of Dr. Borlaug’s influence is the introduction of drought-tolerant maize varieties in northern Nigeria. Collaborations between CIMMYT, IAR and Nigerian extension services have brought improved maize hybrids that can survive erratic rainfall and intense heat. Farmers who adopted these varieties reported yield increases of 30–40% compared to traditional varieties, even during poor rainy seasons. Beyond increasing yields, these varieties reduced the risks of crop failure, improved household food security, and provided farmers with resilience in the face of the growing threat of climate change.

In Nigeria, Borlaug’s legacy continues through programs such as the Norman Borlaug International Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, a scholarship that trains scientists with advanced skills in crop genetics, biotechnology, and agricultural economics. Leaders such as Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank and winner of the World Food Prize, embody Borlaug’s vision in championing agricultural transformation as the most powerful tool to eradicate poverty in Africa.

The impact of his work also reached Eastern Europe, specifically Turkey, which was fighting for food self-sufficiency. While some advocated testing Dr. Borlaug’s wheat varieties, others strongly opposed it. Following successful results from both institutional and farmer trials—especially in coastal regions—larger-scale seed imports were approved. Dr. Borlaug not only developed new wheat varieties but also contributed to improving agricultural education and research activities in Turkey. Many agricultural research institutes and universities in Turkey adopted Dr. Borlaug’s methodologies and benefited from his educational programs. This allowed Turkish agricultural experts and scientists to gain knowledge about modern agricultural techniques and biotechnology.

In addition to training scientists and technicians, he also trained and educated local farmers. These initiatives taught farmers how to apply new farming techniques and how to use the improved seeds. These educational efforts played a critical role in increasing Turkey’s agricultural production and improving farmers’ living standards.

Motivated by the results obtained during this period, collaborative efforts within Turkish research programs and institutions increased, which has made institutional research efforts more effective and coordinated in terms of biodiversity, disease monitoring, species adaptation, and capacity building

Biotechnology Today: Continuing the Mission

Modern biotechnology has taken Borlaug’s vision even further. Tools such as genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9), molecular marker-assisted selection, and bioinformatics now allow scientists to develop crops that thrive in saline soils, resist disease, and withstand drought. These innovations reduce pesticide use, speed up crop cycles, and democratize access to improved seeds.

Beyond crops, biotechnology is boosting livestock and aquaculture, improving efficiency, resilience and nutritional quality. Circular bioeconomy initiatives integrate biotechnology with soil management, recycling and emission reduction, strengthening food systems in the face of climate change and pandemics. While regulatory and ethical debates continue, no adverse health effects from genetic engineering have been documented, underscoring its potential as a safe and transformative tool.

From the Green Revolution to the Blue Revolution

Another aspect of the work of Dr. Borlaug’s team is that the results they obtained in increasing the productivity and yield of agricultural land allowed other important ecosystems, such as forests, to be preserved by protecting them for conservation and biodiversity efforts, rather than using them for agriculture. Thanks to these achievements, producers were able to meet the agricultural demands of society using a smaller land footprint than with conventional agricultural practices. Borlaug’s humanitarian scientific model, guided by compassion and practical application, remains a benchmark.

Today, agricultural biotechnology pursues the same mission with more powerful tools: to ensure dignified lives in the future by integrating technical rigor, environmental ethics, and community engagement. Now, the emerging “Blue Revolution” in aquatic product production reflects this evolution, with the aim of multiplying protein production with a smaller land, water and carbon footprint, while supporting smallholders and regenerating ecosystems. These efforts can be observed in various institutions around the world, where aquatic organisms such as tilapia, oysters, shrimp, and algae are researched and produced, being promoted as alternatives to land animals.

Engineers Without Borders: Carrying Torch:

The legacy of Dr. Norman Borlaug proves that hunger is not inevitable. When science is combined with compassion, determination, and collaboration, it becomes a powerful tool for structural transformation. From the wheat fields of Mexico to the laboratories of modern biotechnology, his vision continues to inspire. Engineers Without Borders honor this legacy and call on society to adopt a humanitarian approach to science and engineering to build a sustainable, inclusive and dignified future for all. We are proud to highlight the work of humanitarian activists like Dr. Borlaug, who dedicated their lives to improving living conditions around the world. Their story reminds us that there are similar challenges in all societies and that cross-border collaboration can lead to transformative solutions. Currently, EWB International supports projects ranging from building bridges to rural connectivity, installing solar energy in remote communities, designing affordable medical devices, and conducting feasibility studies for recycling plants. Each initiative reflects the same spirit: science and engineering at the service of humanity.

Credit to those who put this article together: Betsaida Bibo Verdugo 1,2, Enrique Guemez Sorhouet 1,2, Sergio Ulaje Fernández 2,3, Oyebanre Olufemi David 4, Ali Akyol 5, Rajeev Lal 6, Phuc Vu 7, Arinaitwe Hedwig 8.