the green revolution began in the 1940s, 1950s –was a phase of the 3 rd revolution –really...
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The Green Revolution• Began in the 1940s, 1950s
– Was a phase of the 3rd Revolution
– Really implemented in 1970s, 1980s
• New strains of hybrid seeds and fertilizers were invented and dramatically increased crop output– Began with agricultural
experiments in the U.S. to find ways to improve Mexico’s wheat production capabilities
• Scientists found new hybrid strains of wheat, maize, and rice that were higher-yielding, capable of producing more food at a faster pace
• Scientists also developed new fertilizers and pesticides that supported the higher-yielding seeds
• Required special fertilizers• Increased protection from
diseases and pest infestations
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The Green Revolution• Scientist Norman Borlaug won a
Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work to increase world peace through spreading hunger-reducing technology to poorer regions of the world
– “miracle wheat seed”
• The “miracle” of the Green Revolution was in global diffusion of higher-yielding crops• Globally grain production
increased 45% between 1945- 1990• Food production outpaced
population growth• Asia was able to increase its rice
production by 66% by 1985• India was able to supply its own
wheat and rice by the 1980s• Not able to completely eradicate
hunger• Issue of transportation
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Economic downside to GR• GR reduced the amount of
human labor needed on the farm in some areas
• Higher-yielding crop strains are more prone to viruses and pest infestations
• Many of the higher-yielding crops are not farmable in the dryer regions of Africa
• Some analysts argue that the GR has increased economic inequality in peripheral countries• Local farmers in peripheral
countries often have a difficult time purchasing more expensive GR seeds and technologies
• Example: Nitrogen fertilizer
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Environmental Downsides to GR• GR pesticides have arguably
cause pollution and soil-contamination problems
• Workers who are frequently exposed to these chemicals have suffered health problems from poisoning
• GR crop require more watering which has led to water resources being strained
• Because GR seeds are being adopted so widely ,the genetic diversity in seeds is rapidly reducing, and local strains are being phased out
• GR farming often requires more mechanized farming techniques that need expensive fuels to power farm machines, which increase pollution and fossil fuel consumption
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3rd AG Rev = Green Rev – 1940s-1960s
• MDCs transfer techn to LDCs• Main practices:
– Artificial fertilizer– Irrigation– Insecticides and pesticides– Mechanical machinery– Crossbreeding/hybridization (naturally not in a
lab)– ….all produce higher yields
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3rd Rev / Green Rev
• Multinational Corp encourage LDCs to focus on specialty crops – monoculture for export instead of producing food for local consumption
• Was successful in some LDCs but detrimental in others (new tech devastated land, bad for env, unsustainable farming, and changes in social and culture structures