Oniang’o Keynotes 2018 Borlaug Memorial Lecture

November 14, 2018
borlaug lecture

Approximately 100 people gathered Oct. 22, 2018, at the St. Paul Student Center, for the 12th Annual Borlaug Memorial Lecture (BML), keynoted by Ruth Oniang’o, chair of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and Sasakawa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) in Kenya. The lectureship was established to commemorate the contributions University of Minnesota alumnus Norman Borlaug made to fighting world hunger and to honor an alumnus or alumna of a graduate program in plant sciences with the Emerging Leaders in Plant Sciences Award. The award recognizes an emerging leader in the plant sciences who exhibits the characteristics and values of Norman Borlaug’s legacy.

During the program Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Whitney Place ‘10 presented a proclamation letter from the governor’s office declaring October 22, 2018, as Norman Borlaug Day in the State of Minnesota.

2018 BML planning committee chair Becky Zhong presented the 2018 Emerging Leaders in Plant Sciences Award to Emily Combs Ziemke, PhD ‘12, research scientist at Corteva Agroscience in Mankato. Ziemke discussed her research and increasing genetic diversity in corn.

Oniang’o, co-recipient of the 2017 Africa Food Prize and leading expert in food security and nutrition, discussed how SAA was created in 1986 to seek a more sustainable solution to Africa’s food security problems due to a worsening hunger situation seen in multiple African countries throughout the 1970s-1980s.

Oniang’o described Borlaug’s impact in Africa, and what SAA is currently doing to continue to make positive changes.

Borlaug always urged that “we take it to the farmers,” Oniang’o said. Wherever Borlaug went in Africa, “he was always talking to the farmers, he was never around the politicians, in fact, he was always hiding in the background because he wanted to meet the farmers and ask about their concerns.”

Also as part of the event, Oniang’o and Ziemke participated in a series of events with students, faculty, and staff.

The 2018 BML event was organized by graduate students of the University of Minnesota’s Applied Plant Sciences, Plant Pathology Programs, and the Gopher Crops and Soils Club, and in collaboration with the World Food Prize with funding provided by the Plant Pathology Department and Coca-Cola Grants issued through University Student Unions and Activities.

By Becky Zhong

Watch Facebook captured live-streams from the lecture