Warmup The Green Revolution included which of the following? A.Irrigation projects B.Increased use of biocides C.The development of “miracle seeds” D.Hybridization of methods E.All of the above

Update Turning in work = good! Not turning in work = less good! Less good often = bad!

Movie this week Cinderella Man Thursday

Fully define the Green Revolution The invention and rapid diffusion of more productive agricultural techniques during the 1970s and 1980s. These techniques involved higher-yield (high production) seeds and chemical fertilizers.

Explain increases in rice production In many regions in Asia, from , rice production doubled. GR seeds went from 0% of planted rice in the 1960s to over 80% of planted rice today in many parts of Asia. Sources:

Negative Effects of the GR Decreased crop variations. Requires heavy machinery, therefore excluding many poor farmers. Many new crops are resistant to traditional pesticides. LDC farmers enter a cycle of dependence on multinational corporations like Monsanto. Does not address economic inequality.

Positive Effects of the GR More food = more people who can be fed. New crops are more responsive to irrigation and to petrochemical fertilizers. Postpones the predictions of Thomas Malthus. Reduction in poverty in many regions, particularly Asia.

Gender Effects of the GR Women's wage-earning opportunities have decreased because of mechanization. Source:

Food Security Access to and availability of food, Resource distribution to produce food Purchasing power to buy food where it is not produced. Source:

Sustainable Agriculture Agricultural practices that preserve and enhance environmental quality. GR is not focused on sustainability. Intensive GR farming could lead to soil exhaustion. Fertilizers in the GR may hurt local ecosystems.

Food Distribution: Two Arguments 1 – The GR increased crop yields across the world, driving up the supply of food and driving down to costs. As a result, the poor had food and more job opportunities in agriculture.

Food Distribution: Two Arguments 2- The GR drove many poor farmers out of business because they could not afford GR seeds. Additionally, LDCs are still poor, and it does not matter how much food is produced if the poor cannot afford it.