1943 Mexican agricultural program begins The Rockefeller Foundation and Mexican government launch a program that becomes central to early Green Revolution research. 1944 Norman Borlaug joins the Mexican program Borlaug begins the plant-breeding work that later transforms wheat production. 1950 Semi-dwarf wheat breeding advances Researchers in Mexico make major progress toward higher-yield, fertilizer-responsive wheat. 1956 Mexico becomes self-sufficient in wheat Early Green Revolution methods produce striking national gains in wheat output. 1960 IRRI founded The International Rice Research Institute is established to improve rice production in Asia. 1963 CIMMYT established The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center grows out of the Mexican program. 1965 India begins large-scale seed imports Facing food pressure, India turns to high-yield seeds and other intensive agricultural inputs. 1966 High-yield wheat introduced widely in India New varieties begin to transform production in northwestern India. 1966 IR8 rice released The International Rice Research Institute releases IR8, a landmark high-yield rice variety. 1967 Green Revolution enters public vocabulary William Gaud popularizes the term 'Green Revolution' for the new agricultural transformation. 1968 Record wheat harvests in India India posts major gains that help avert severe food shortages. 1970 Norman Borlaug wins Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Committee honors Borlaug for agricultural advances linked to hunger reduction. c. 1970 Green Revolution methods spread across Asia High-yield cereals, irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides diffuse across multiple Asian countries. 1974 World Food Conference highlights food security Global policy debate increasingly centers on hunger, agricultural productivity, and rural development. c. 1980 Environmental criticisms intensify Observers increasingly criticize input-intensive farming for ecological and social costs. 1983 New rice breeding successes continue Further improved rice lines reinforce the research model established by IRRI. c. 1990 Green Revolution expands in parts of Africa unevenly African adoption remains more limited and uneven than in Asia and Latin America. 2000 Second Green Revolution debates grow Researchers and policymakers debate biotechnology, sustainability, and a possible new phase of productivity gains. 2007 Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa gains prominence AGRA becomes a visible institution in efforts to raise African agricultural productivity. 2023 M. S. Swaminathan dies The death of the Indian agronomist closes the career of a central architect of India's Green Revolution.