May 23, 2025
The scientific legacy of Borlaug fuels women’s leadership in agriculture, exemplified by the remarkable career of Evangelina Villegas.
Norman Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for leading an agricultural revolution in Mexico, specifically in the Yaqui Valley in Sonora, where he developed high-yield, disease-resistant wheat varieties that helped save the lives of thousands threatened by hunger.
Evangelina Villegas, together with Dr. Surinder Vasal (left) and Norman Borlaug (second from right), share a moment together. (Photo: CIMMYT)
His legacy, driven by CIMMYT in collaboration with the Government of Mexico, has had a profound and lasting impact on global food security. This legacy has inspired and empowered the role of numerous women in agricultural science, encouraging them to lead innovative and essential research to address global food challenges.
Among the women who have stood out due to this influence is Evangelina Villegas, a Mexican scientist whose pioneering work in nutritional maize improvement had a global impact. Together with Dr. Surinder Vasal, Villegas developed quality protein maize (QPM), an innovation that significantly reduced malnutrition and improved nutritional quality for millions of people in developing countries. For these contributions, Evangelina Villegas was awarded the World Food Prize in 2000, becoming the first woman to receive this prestigious honor.
Beyond her scientific achievements, Evangelina Villegas stood out for her commitment to mentoring new generations of researchers, especially women. Her efforts opened doors for more women scientists to participate in high-impact social projects, establishing her as a role model for female leadership in agricultural science.
Villegas’s career clearly reflects the continuation of the social and scientific commitment initiated by Borlaug. Her example highlights how his legacy has not only positively influenced science but also played a crucial role in advancing gender equity within the agricultural and scientific sectors.
An award presented to Evangelina Villegas for the 2000 World Food Prize, recognizing her contribution to global food security. (Photo: Jenifer Morales/CIMMYT)
Today, the life and work of Evangelina Villegas continue to inspire young women researchers, demonstrating how fostering female leadership in agriculture is essential for building sustainable, inclusive, and equitable food systems capable of addressing current and future challenges.
Evangelina Villegas in her laboratory conducting analyses that led to the development of quality protein maize (QPM). (Photo: CIMMYT)
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