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 | Disease | Environmental | USDA
The Southern Corn Leaf Blight swept across the South
In 1970, the Southern Corn Leaf Blight (SCLB) sweeps across the South, destroying 15% of the U.S. corn…
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…
Agriculture | Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | FDA
FDA began administering Sanitation Programs for milk, shellfish, food service, and interstate travel facilities
In 1969, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began administering Sanitation Programs for milk, shellfish, food service, and…
Agriculture | Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center was founded
In 1969, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center was founded in Lubbock, Texas. In 1974 construction began on…
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 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Biological…
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 University of Calgary was founded
On Apr. 29, 1966, the University of Calgary (UCalgary) was founded as the Calgary branch of the University…
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…
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushcev visited the Iowa corn farm to verify impressive corn hybrid stories
On Sept. 23, 1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushcev visited the Iowa corn farm of seedman Roswell Garst to…
Arnel Hallauer became director of ISU’s maize breeding program
In 1959, Arnel Hallauer became director of Iowa State University’s (ISU) maize breeding program. Hallauer was part of…
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…
As a result of plant breeding efforts begun in 1943, Mexico becomes self-sufficient in wheat for the first time
In 1957, the Mexican Agriculture Program (MAP) was the The Rockefeller Foundationﾒs first intensive agricultural endeavor begun in…
The FAO published first Plant Introduction Newsletter, a periodical of germplasm
In 1957, the FAO published its first Plant Introduction Newsletter, a periodical summary of who has what germplasm…
Agriculture | Biology | Environmental | EPA | Forestry | Life Science History | USDA
USDA Forest Service Spayed DDT to Control spruce budworm in Oregon Forest
In Jul. 1955, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) sprayed DDT as…
University of Alberta chemist Ray Lemieux announced the first synthesis of sucrose
In 1953, University of Alberta chemist Ray Lemieux, along with George Huber, announced the synthesis of sucrose for…
Agriculture | Biology | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics | Veterinary
Betty Delores Stough became the first woman to earn a PhD at the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (parasitology)
In 1953, Betty Delores Stough became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. at the Virginia Agricultural and…
National Research Council established library on University of Saskatchewan focused on chemistry and biology to diversify Canadian agriculture
In 1948, the National Research Council established a library on the University of Saskatchewan campus to use chemistry…
Geneticist Barbara McClintock issued report on transposable elements
In 1947, Little-known geneticist Barbara McClintock issued her first report on transposable elements – known today as jumping…