The U.S. General Accounting Office released a scathing report on the National Plant Germplasm System
On Dec. 4, 1981, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report on the National Plant Germplasm…
the 21st session of the FAO Conference in Rome, genetic resource conservation becomes an internationally politicized issue
On Nov. 25, 1981, at the 21st session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference in Rome,…
The Vannevar Bush Award was established
In 1980, Established in 1980, the award commemorates Vannevar Bush, a science advisor to President Roosevelt during World…
U.S. congressional hearings on proposed amendments to expand the 1970 Plant Variety Protection Act passed
In 1980, U.S. Congressional hearings on proposed amendments to expand the 1970 Plant Variety Protection Act turn into…
Stanford Hospital Department of Pharmacology faculty expressed opposition to aerial spraying of Malathion to combat Mediterranean fruit fly
In 1980, faculty members in the Stanford University’s Department of Pharmacology publicly expressed their opposition to the proposed…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Melvin Calvin
In 1978, The Priestley Medal was awarded to Melvin Calvin by the American Chemical Society “to recognize distinguished…
The IBPGR project to develop a standardized computer system for germplasm was cancelled due to cost
In 1977, the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) having inherited from the Food and Agriculture Organization’s…
The National Plant Genetic Resources Board was formed
In 1975, The National Plant Genetic Resources Board (NPGRB) was established by the secretary of agriculture in 1975,…
Only eight institutions worldwide held the cold-storage capability necessary for long-term seed storage
In 1975, only eight institutions worldwide, mostly in developed countries, have the cold-storage capability necessary for long-term seed…
Stanford Medicine researchers discovered link between exercise and increased ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol levels
In 1975, Stanford Medicine researchers discovered link between exercise and increased ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol levels. The Coronary Primary…
Bioversity International established as the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources
In 1974, Bioversity International was established as the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) to coordinate an…
Kampuchea (formerly Cambodia) replanted war destroyed rice germplasm with IRRI samples collected in 1973
In 1982, having lost, neglected, or eaten to extinction most of its local rice varieties during the recent…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned DDT
On Jun. 14, 1972, an end to the continued domestic usage of the pesticide DDT was decreed when…
FAO’s Plant Introduction Newsletter was renamed Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter
In 1971, The Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter was one of Bioversity Internationalﾒs flagship publications. Though no longer published,…
Norman Borlaug became the first plant breeder to Accept the Nobel Prize for his work on wheat varieties
On Dec. 10, 1970, Norman Borlaug, from Cresco, Iowa, became the first plant breeder to accept the Nobel…
Agriculture | Biology | Chemical | Energy | Environmental | EPA | Forestry | Life Science History | Marine Science | U.S. Congress
Earth Day was held for the first time
On Apr. 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was held and the modern environmental movement was born. A…
Agriculture | Biology | Chemical | Energy | Environmental | EPA | Forestry | Life Science History | Marine Science | U.S. Congress
A proposal to establish “Earth Day” was submitted to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
On Oct. 3, 1969, a proposal to establish “Earth Day” was submitted by John McConnell to Peter Tamaris…
The FAO sponsored the first attempt to develop a computerized data bank for the world’s genetic resources
In 1969, The FAO’s Crop Ecology Unit sponsored the first attempt to develop a standardized, computerized data bank…
FAO’s Crop Ecology Unit srvey revealed that only 28% germplasm samples held worldwide are stored properly
In 1969, a survey by the FAO’s Crop Ecology Unit reveals that only 28% of the approximately two…
The term “Green Revolution” was coined
On Mar. 8, 1968, the term Green Revolution was coined by William Gaud during a speech as administrator…
The FAO created a Crop Ecology and Genetic Resources Unit
In 1968, The FAO created a Crop Ecology and Genetic Resources Unit to act as a clearinghouse for…
The FAO and the International Biological Programme put on the second major conference on germplasm
On Sept. 18, 1967, the FAO and the International Biological Programme put on the second major conference on…
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USDA eradicated New World screwworm from the United States
In 1966, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) eradicated New World screwworm (NWS) from the United States using sterile…
The FAO established the Crop Research and Introduction Centre at Izmir, Turkey
In 1964, the FAO, backed by the U.N. Special Fund, sets up the Crop Research and Introduction Centre…
The Rockefeller Foundation initiated international center for improvement of maize and wheat in Mexico
In 1964, the Mexican Agriculture Program (MAP) was the The Rockefeller Foundationﾒs first intensive agricultural endeavor begun in…
As part of its World Seeds Year, the FAO held a Technical Conference on Plant Exploration and Introduction
In 1961, as part of its World Seeds Year, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held a Technical…
Outbreak in South Africa raises possibility of wild birds as a possible reservoir for influenza A viruses
In 1961, influenza virus was first isolated from wild birds in South Africa, from common terns (Sterna hirundo)….
The Northern Grain Insects Research Laboratory was established
In Jun. 1960, the U.S. Congress passed an appropriations bill that included funding for a Federal Insect Laboratory…
Food Additives Amendments were passed
On Sept. 6, 1958, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Additives Amendments were passed, requiring that…
The National Seed Storage Laboratory opens in Fort Collins, Colorado
In 1958, the National Seed Storage Laboratory (NSSL), the first long-term seed storage facility in the world, opened…