Dr. Ron Phillips is Regents Professor Emeritus and former McKnight Presidential Chair in Genomics, University of Minnesota. Throughout his career, Phillips has coupled the techniques of plant genetics and molecular biology to enhance our understanding of basic biology of cereal crops and to improve these species by innovative methods. His research program at the University of Minnesota was one of the early programs in modern plant biotechnology related to agriculture. Dr. Phillips will be discussing the agricultural breakthroughs made by Norman Borlaug, and the ever-increasing need for similar discoveries to meet future global food needs. Borlaug, who has been hailed as "the father of the Green Revolution," cultivated semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease-resistant wheat varieties. He is often credited with saving more than a billion people worldwide from starvation, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 in recognition of his contributions to world peace through increasing food supply. There still work to be done. In March of 2005, Borlaug stated, "We will have to double the world's food supply by 2050." Dr. Phillips will discuss the possibilities and challenges facing agriculturalists as they attempt to feed an ever-increasing population with a finite amount of farmable land. A reception will follow. Through a generous sponsorship from AT&T the event is offered free of charge, but reservations are strongly recommended. Please call (979) 691-4014 or email to reservations.bush@nara.gov for more information or to reserve a seat.