Jose Gonzalez Martinez

Guatemalan agronomist who developed drought-resistant corn varieties saving millions from famine in Central America

Jose Gonzalez Martinez (1925-2001) revolutionized agriculture across Central America through his development of drought-resistant corn varieties. Born in a rural Guatemalan village, he witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by the 1947-48 regional drought that killed 200,000 people. This tragedy drove him to study agronomy at the University of San Carlos de Guatemala, graduating in 1950 with a thesis on crop resilience.

Over 15 years of fieldwork in the Guatemalan highlands, he cross-bred native corn strains with African drought-resistant varieties, creating the Maíz de Vida (Corn of Life) hybrid. Released in 1965, this variety produced harvests with only 25% of normal rainfall, directly preventing famine during the 1970-71 dry season. His work was recognized by the World Food Prize Committee in 1972.

Gonzalez established the Centro Agrícola Latinoamericano (1968), training over 3,000 farmers in sustainable practices. His research formed the basis for Mexico's 1975 Green Revolution initiatives. The documentary Seeds of Survival (1980) chronicles his life's work, though original copies are rare. His autobiography Planting Hope (1985) remains required reading at agricultural colleges across Latin America.