Reflections from Ezra Taft Benson and past Institute Directors

“Ezra Taft Benson, former LDS Church President, left an important legacy to the entire world. Benson was world-renowned in professional and political life, having served two terms as the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States.

His legacy of humanitarian service in agriculture lives on through an organization to which he chose to give his name and guidance - The Ezra Taft Benson Agriculture and Food Institute, an integral part of the College of Biology and Agriculture at Brigham Young University.”

At the dedication of the Benson Institute at BYU, President Benson explained how the Institute's program was to effectively work with the rural poor.

"Too often we as benevolent Americans have given them food instead of teaching them how to produce food."

"Against this background of far too many failures in traditional food aid programs and the rapidly growing number of God's children throughout the whole earth, it is abundantly clear that a new approach is in order."

"It is fitting that this institute have its beginning here at BYU, a place of learning with a worldwide reputation for its pursuit of excellence. As we look to the need for developing nations to learn how to use the resources they already have to feed and clothe their people, it becomes obvious that BYU is uniquely qualified to assume a role of leadership."

"The Institute will be an agency of experimentation whereby the agricultural resources of the various lands can be evaluated, new technology applied, nutritional needs studied.  Then, the beneficial results of this research can be implemented at the proper time through the worldwide channels of the Church, correlated through existing developing welfare services programs.  In this manner, the delivery system for these programs will enjoy the effectiveness of the priesthood leadership throughout the world.  The people will be taught to help themselves.  And that is a vital part of God's plan."

- President Ezra Taft Benson, BYU 1975.

Throughout the past three decades the Benson Institute, assisted by BYU professors and qualified volunteer personnel, has been working with rural, impoverished families in developing nations. The Benson Institute is working in several nations. Among these is Guatemala, where the death rate in many villages among rural children by the age of 5 is 50%.

The mortality rate among the children has dropped a dramatic 90% in the 20 villages where the institute has worked with farmer families and the local Guatemalan agricultural college, CUNORI. This means that the lives of over 240 children in these villages were saved over a five year period.

The principal objective of the Benson Institute is the improvement of nutrition through enlightened agricultural practices among the rural people of the Third World. To accomplish this objective, the Institute works in collaboration with in-country universities and other development organizations who have a similar mission. With collaborating agencies, we jointly assess the status of families as it relates to dietary adequacy, agricultural technology, health and economic opportunity. That assessment then leads to a development strategy for developing family self-reliance.

The lessons learned and technology discoveries resulting from research conducted, find application and transmission to in-country farm families through the students and faculty members of the cooperating universities and our local, in-country Benson Institute personnel. These local professionals then work jointly to improve the lot of the impoverished poor. This increasing awareness on the part of local agencies and provides educational and developmental support which continues to aid the nation's rural poor after the project has been completed. Concerned people, who are devoted to the nutritional and economic welfare of their own citizens, are the foundation of sustainable development. Adequate nutrition is key among those factors that sustain the traditional self-reliant family. Family stability is at the heart of a healthy, peaceful society.

We invite your inquiries as to our process and approach.

Allen C. Christensen, Ph.D.

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