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

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

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

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

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

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