The Green Revolution WHY ? Emerged out of a concern over population growth: Could agricultural production keep pace? WHAT ? The transformation of agriculture in many developing countries that led to significant increases in cereal production between the 1940s and 1970s. Widespread introduction of science and technology in agriculture The “Father of the Green Revolution”- Norman Borlaug

History of the Green Revolution Norman Borlaug –father of the Green Revolution –winner of Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 Started in Mexico in Within a generation, Mexico had gone from a food importing country to a food exporting country. Plant breeding to create new seed varieties that have higher yields.

Recipe for a Revolution High Yielding Varieties (HYV) seeds –Increased nitrogen absorption potential –Semi-dwarf varieties By 1970: –20% of wheat area and 30% of rice area in developing countries planted with HYV

Recipe for a Revolution Required application of: –Nitrogen Fertilizers –Synthetic Pesticides –Irrigation F1 Hybrids Double-Cropping farmland Continued Expansion of Green Revolution crops –As farmers got increased yields from rice and wheat, they planted more land in rice and wheat at the expense of other crops –Effect on biodiversity?

Social impacts Farmers had larger incomes Stimulated the non-farm economy Improved rural (farmers and others) nutrition because they had more $ to spend Slowed down conversion of land to agriculture But favored large, mechanized farms over small, ``family’’ farms

Green revolution in India

Green revolution problems Requires heavy doses of fertilizer, irrigation, equipment –Fossil fuel use increase Emphasizes rice, wheat (commodity crops) not subsistence crops

Fertilizer use Steady increase from 1950s. Why erratic beginning 1980s?

Land planted in crops Net Result: Drop of per capita acreage - that is land planted per person - this decrease is due to an increasing population which by itself would lead to a decreased per capita if land were not added proportionally, and the additional decrease due to land withdrawal :.24 acres/person 1986:.1 5 acres/person 2000:.1 2 acres/person

CAFOs Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

CAFO Chickens with little room to run around in a darkened warehouse Diseases spread easily, so _______ _______________

Biotechnology Introducing genes from one organism to a crop plant or animal. Herbicide resistance Pesticide resistance

Terminator technology Genes added to crops that make the seeds infertile Therefore, farmers can’t save seeds from their harvest for planting the next season –This is typically done in poor countries Problems : –Farmer must buy seeds every year. –If terminator escaped, wild plants could be made infertile. –The first problem is real; the second problem is mostly hype  plants are infertile, so low fitness