Everything else can wait, agriculture can’t.
Interpretation
Agriculture is a fundamental and urgent priority that cannot be postponed.
Norman Borlaug's quote emphasizes the critical importance of agriculture in sustaining life and society. It suggests that while many aspects of life can be put on hold, the processes that feed and nourish humanity must always take precedence, highlighting agriculture's role in food security and the well-being of the planet.
In practice
In a speech addressing climate change, this quote can remind audiences of the urgency for sustainable agricultural practices.
During the past three years spectacular progress has been made in increasing wheat, rice, and maize production in several of the most populous developing countries of southern Asia, where widespread famine appeared inevitable only five years ago
We must recognize the fact that adequate food is only the first requisite for life. For a decent and humane life, we must also provide an opportunity for good education, remunerative employment, comfortable housing, good clothing, and effective and compassionate medical care.
We are 6.6 billion people now. We can only feed 4 billion. I don't see 2 billion volunteers to disappear.
Nevertheless, the number of farmers, small as well as large, who are adopting the new seeds and new technology is increasing very rapidly, and the increase in numbers during the past three years has been phenomenal.
Africa needs roads. Roads bring know-how and fertilizer to farmers and ideas and business for commerce.
This is a basic problem, to feed 6.6 billion people. Without fertilizer, forget it. The game is over.
I am not a yachting person, by nature, but I have just enough experience on the sea under sail to feel a certain nostalgia for it when I see a big white racing yacht heeled over at cruising speed on the ocean, and I can still tie a mean bowline knot on just about anything in less than 10 seconds.
It's easy to blame the nature-deficit disorder on the kids' or the parents' back, but they also need the help of urban planners, schools, libraries and other community agents to find nature that's accessible.
Why is it so easy to save the banks - but so hard to save the biosphere?
Blessed be the Lord for the beauty of summer and spring, for the air, the water, the verdure, and the song of birds.
Take a course in good water and air; and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you.
I can enjoy society in a room; but out of doors, nature is company enough for me
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