The Green Revolution The role of technology in food production (and its role in reducing food shortages)

3 Agricultural Worlds The Haves: Europe, N. America, Australia, and New Zealand have sufficient cropland to meet their food needs Have efficient farm production systems enabling the production of more food from the same amount of land.

3 Agricultural Worlds The Rich Have-Nots: land-poor Japan and Singapore as well as rapidly developing countries such as Indonesia, China, Chile and Peru These countries are unable to grow enough food for their populations but can afford to purchase imports to make up for it

3 Agricultural Worlds The Poor Have-Nots: The majority of the developing world (3 billion people total) These countries are unable to produce enough food for their populations and cannot afford the imports to make up for it.

The Context of the Green Revolution During the 1960s and early 70s, Malthus’ ideas came back into fashion (Club of Rome) as there were dire predictions of the world’s population outstripping resources—particularly in India.

What is the Green Revolution? “The application of science and technology to creating High-Yielding Varieties of major food staples (mainly grains) In other words, to get more food out of the same area of land—increasing the productivity of land.

Where did all this come from? During the 1940s, pioneering work was done by Prof. Norman Borlaug in the hybridization of plants. Essentially, he produced dwarf varieties so that more of the energy went into food production, than into growing tall.

GREEN REVOLUTION Greatest effect felt in LEDCs Adoption of new, improved varieties of grains Application of better agricultural techniques Irrigation Mechanization Use of fertilizer Use of pesticides 6

The Green Revolution in India 1966-67: India was one of the first countries to benefit from a high-yielding seed program Turning Point for Indian Agriculture 5 cereals: wheat, rice, maize, sorghum and millet Drought-resistant Shorter growing season Very responsive to fertilizer

Advantages of the Green Revolution Yields are 2-4 times greater The shorter growing season Farming incomes have increased Diet of rural communities is now varied Local infrastructure has been upgraded Employment has been created for industries that supply farms with supplies and machinery

What did it do? It produced spectacular increases in yields and production, and we must not lose sight of that. There is no doubt that it made more food available than would have existed without it.

Principal Beneficiaries of the Green Revolution 7

“Green Revolution”

Disadvantages of the Green Revolution High amounts of fertilizers and pesticides are needed to optimize production. This is both economically and environmentally costly New varieties require more weed control and are more susceptible to pests and disease Middle and higher-income farmers have benefited more than low-income farmers- thus widening the income gap in rural communities and increasing rural to urban migration Mechanization of farming has increased rural unemployment Some new varieties have inferior taste

The Green Revolution: The Latest Concern A 1992 UN report found that even in countries where food intake had risen, diseases associated with vitamin and mineral deficiencies had increased. These deficiencies were linked to consumption of Green Revolution crops, which are low in vitamins and minerals Because these crops have replaced common produce, many people in the developing world have extremely low levels of zinc, iron, and vitamin A

The Green Revolution: The Latest Concern In some countries, the majority of people suffer from this hidden starvation People who are starved, never fulfill their physical or intellectual potential The World Bank estimates that these vitamin deficiencies are responsible for reducing the GDP of the developing world by as much as 5%

“Golden Rice” THE GREAT YELLOW HOPE In 1982, the Rockefeller Foundation funded research into rice varieties to promote global health Nutritionally enhanced rice Used a daffodil gene Rice now produces beta-carotene The body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A Blindness in LDCs is caused by vitamin A deficiencies Time Magazine declares: “This rice could save a million kids a year.” 9

“Golden Rice” THE GREAT YELLOW HYPE An 11 year-old child would need to eat 15 pounds of golden rice a day to satisfy the minimum daily requirement of vitamin A Conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A requires fat and protein in the diet (these are lacking in LEDCs) Asians may not want to eat golden rice – they prefer white rice over the more nutrient rich brown rice which has always existed 10