The Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI - originally named the Global Rust Initiative) was founded in response to recommendations of a committee of international experts who met to consider a response to the threat the global food supply posed by the UG99 strain of wheat rust. The BGRI was renamed the Borlaug Global Rust initiative in honor of Green Revolution

Green Revolution

Green Revolution refers to a series of research, development, and technology transfer initiatives, occurring between the 1940s and the late 1970s, that increased agriculture production around the world, beginning most markedly in the late 1960s....

 pioneer and Nobel Laureate Dr Norman Borlaug who worked to establish and lead the Global Rust Initiative .

The BGRI has the overarching objective of systematically reducing the world’s vulnerability to stem, yellow, and leaf rusts of wheat and advocating/facilitating the evolution of a sustainable international system to contain the threat of wheat rusts and continue the enhancements in productivity required to withstand future global threats to wheat.

Permanent Members

1. Cornell University - Ronnie Coffman, Vice Chairman
2. CIMMYT - Thomas Lumpkin, Director General
3. Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Subbana Ayyappan, Director General
4. ICARDA - Mahmoud Solh, Director General
5. UN-FAO - Shivaji Pandey, Director of Agricultural Support Systems