For, behind the scenes, halfway around the world in Mexico, were two decades of aggressive research on wheat that not only enabled Mexico to become self-sufficient with respect to wheat production but also paved the way to rapid increase in its production in other countries.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the significant impact of agricultural research on global wheat production, particularly in Mexico.
Norman Borlaug highlights the importance of dedicated research in agriculture, specifically in the field of wheat, which allowed Mexico to achieve self-sufficiency in its production. This advancement not only benefitted Mexico but also served as a model for increasing wheat production in other countries, illustrating how scientific innovation can address food security issues worldwide.
In practice
In a speech about food security, one might say, 'As Norman Borlaug stated, the research on wheat in Mexico shows how we can achieve agricultural independence.'
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
We must recognize the fact that adequate food is only the first requisite for life. For a decent and humane life, we must also provide an opportunity for good education, remunerative employment, comfortable housing, good clothing, and effective and compassionate medical care.
We are 6.6 billion people now. We can only feed 4 billion. I don't see 2 billion volunteers to disappear.
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.
Africa needs roads. Roads bring know-how and fertilizer to farmers and ideas and business for commerce.
This is a basic problem, to feed 6.6 billion people. Without fertilizer, forget it. The game is over.
Psychology has a long past, but only a short history.
Observations indicate that the universe is expanding at an ever-increasing rate. It will expand forever, getting emptier and darker. Although the universe doesn’t have an end, it had a beginning in the Big Bang. One might ask what is before that but the answer is that there is nowhere before the Big Bang just as there is nowhere south of the South Pole.
When I am in the company of scientists, I feel like a shabby curate who has strayed by mistake into a drawing room full of dukes.
Human societies vary in lots of independent factors affecting their openness to innovation.
I think that in the discussion of natural problems we ought to begin not with the Scriptures, but with experiments, and demonstrations.
I miss the early days; I do. I was so lucky. I basically had it to myself, learning about these chimpanzees. Nobody knew anything about them. Discovering their different personalities, different life histories. I was lucky.
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