Gates Foundation gives $1 million to fight world hunger
An endowment contribution from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to honor Dr. Norman Borlaug, "the father of the Green Revolution," will help the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences train future international agricultural leaders.
The foundation’s $1 million endowment contribution to the memorial Borlaug International Scholars Fund will be used to build productive partnerships between students, scientists and farmers in developing countries and U.S. land-grant universities. This gift was the first major donation to the memorial fund, which was established through the nonprofit Texas A&M Foundation.
"The grant to the Borlaug International Scholars Fund will allow students with demonstrated commitment to fighting global hunger to further their educations," said Dr. Don Doering, a program officer in the Agricultural Development Initiative at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "Training future generations of scientists is crucial to helping millions of small farmers and their families lift themselves out of hunger and poverty with new knowledge and tools."
Borlaug, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who launched the Green Revolution in the 1960s, was a distinguished professor at Texas A&M from 1984 until his death Sept. 12 at age 95.
He also was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work, and has been credited with saving more lives than anyone in history.
"Developing nations need the help of agricultural scientists, researchers, administrators and others in finding ways to feed ever-growing populations," Borlaug stated earlier this year when calling for a second Green Revolution. "... Land-grant universities help achieve a more lasting worldwide food security by providing technical assistance, educational outreach, improved technology and agricultural practices, scientific training and research, and hands-on instruction."
A&M ag education department ranked second in nation
The department of agricultural leadership, education and communications at Texas A&M University has been named a "distinguished program" and ranked second in the nation among 82 universities offering similar degrees.
The department is part of Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
According to Robert Birkenholz and Jon Simonsen, authors of a study titled "Characteristics of Distinguished Programs of Agricultural Education," 10 agricultural education programs across the U.S. were "distinguished," and the Texas A&M department was ranked second among those programs.
The agricultural education program at the University of Florida was ranked first. Texas Tech University was ranked ninth.
"Being nationally ranked is quite an honor and reflects the long-term commitment of the faculty and staff to work hard for the right reasons, our students," said Dr. Jack Elliot, department head. "The faculty has worked diligently the past 10 years to modernize our curriculum, enhance our research capabilities and increase the quality of our graduate students."
The department has 900 undergraduates and 160 graduate students.
Notable Quotables
"Our experience working with agricultural interests has shown that the most effective reform of animal welfare standards comes when the solutions are not only good for animals, but good for people who buy food and good for farmers. It is least effective when mandated or legislated by outsiders."
– Marie Belew Wheatley, president and CEO of American Humane, commenting on the passage of Issue 2 in Ohio, which was endorsed by American Humane.