Only five people have received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Nobel Peace Prize. Nelson Mandela. Elie Wiesel. Mother Teresa. Dr. Martin Luther King.

And Norman Borlaug. A giant of agriculture has passed. Norman Borlaug has died.

He saved the lives of more people than any other person who has ever lived. Yet to know him and to talk with him would not lead you to believe this man saved the lives of tens, if not hundreds, of millions of people.

But he did.

He understood the shifting geography of hunger – his parents had experienced it in Norway before emigrating to the United States. He himself had seen it the Dust Bowl of 1930s America and the 20th century villages of Mexico, India and Africa.

And he chose to do something. He wasn’t about meetings, and conferences, and symposia; he was about doing. And hard work. And finding the best minds to help him. And taking risks.

He introduced new wheat varieties and technology practices in Mexico, resulting in self-sufficient wheat production within a decade of his arrival.

His new approach to agriculture increased production four-fold in Pakistan and India. What he started in those two countries spread across the Middle East. Other scientists adopted his methods for other crops, like rice. Astounding things happened and collectively became known as the Green Revolution.

Norman Borlaug did something profound.

He proved that hunger is not an inevitable condition of human existence. People don’t have to go to bed hungry. Children don’t have to starve.

He lifted all of our eyes to the reality that feeding the world – all of the world’s people – is within our grasp.

We can do this. The highest tribute we can give this man is to prove that he will continue to be right, and that hundreds of millions more will benefit from his vision and courage.