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The Green Revolution: an attempt to find ways to feed the world's…
The Green Revolution:
an attempt to find ways to feed the world's rapidly growing population
History
began 1943 when Rockefeller Foundation funded group of US agricultural scientists to set up research project in Mexico;
aim: to increase Mexico's wheat production by
irrigation infrastructure;
modernization of management techniques
distribution of hybridized seeds, synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides
first Green Revolution seeds distributed 1950
project expanded into maize (corn)
by 1967 scientists were exporting their work to other parts of the world
Norman Borlaug - one of the founders of the Green Revolution;
won the Nobel Peace Prize 1970 for promoting world peace through elimination of hunger
Main Features
development of higher yield seeds than traditional seeds
led to need to increase amount of nitrogen plants could absorb
to do this, deliver nitrogen-based fertilizers in water
need for major water and irrigation development projects
scientists developed dwarf varieties of grain
dwarf varieties, grown in moist conditions, encouraged pests and diseases
scientists developed a range of pesticides
Advantages
yields are 2 to 5 times larger than those of traditional crops
example: India became largely self-sufficient in rice and wheat
global agriculture system has grown spectacularly but in 21st c. demand outstrips supply
increase for some farmers in individual production and wealth
yields are high enough to enable export trade; important sources of foreign exchange
Drawbacks/Problems
wheat, rice, maize - unsuitable crops in many global regions; research on sorghum, millet has lagged behind
poor soils and lack of water in Africa make progress difficult
new strains vulnerable to pest and disease infestation
social effects: decreased need for human labour (e.g. southern Brazil) - unemployment
social inequalities: a small number of agriculturalists gain wealth;
poverty and landlessness; eg. Mexico - black market for seeds, fert., pest. - poor farmers coerced into using them, leading to debt, lost land; became migrant workers or urban poor
environment: pollution from chemical pesticides (workers poisoned); irrigation creates salt build-up (salinization)
chemical fertilizers & pesticides derived from fossil fuels
soil contamination
monocropping
decreased production of biomass fuels (wood, dung, crop residues)
worldwide loss of genetic diversity
economic pressures toward export crops to pay for importation of Green Rev. technologies
