THE GREEN REVOLUTION The Third Agricultural Revolution And

THE GREEN REVOLUTION (The Third Agricultural Revolution) And Biotechnology

Objective To gain knowledge and understanding of green revolution To research on role of green revolution in eradication of hunger from the poor countries. Out come To analyze the advantages and disadvantages of green revolution

THOMAS MALTHUS 19 th century economist Believed that because population grows geometrically and food production arithmetically famine was inevitable. Slowing the growth of population was the only possibility to prevent starvation History (so far) has proven Malthus wrong. . .

INCREASE IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PER CAPITA

There are two important terms to bear in mind here: Food entitlement deficit (FED) suggests that food shortages were caused by a lack of wages/income (rising costs of food relative to average incomes) Food availability deficit (FAD) suggests that food shortages were caused by local difficulties in supply, perhaps the result of drought or floods

What is the Green Revolution The term Green Revolution refers to the renovation of agricultural practices beginning in Mexico in the 1940 s. Because of its success in producing more agricultural products there, Green Revolution technologies spread worldwide in the 1950 s and 1960 s, significantly increasing the amount of calories produced per acre of agriculture.

The crops developed during the Green Revolution were high yield varieties meaning they were domesticated plants bred specifically to respond to fertilizers and produce an increased amount of grain per acre planted.

GREEN REVOLUTION A complex of improvements which greatly increased agricultural production Since 1950’s Agricultural output outpaced population growth even without adding additional cropland Adoption of new, improved varieties of grains Application of better agricultural techniques Irrigation Mechanization Use of fertilizer Use of pesticides

Principal Beneficiaries of the Green Revolution WHEAT Mexico Egypt Turkey RICE Thailand Vietnam Korea Indonesia § BOTH India China Pakistan

“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. ” Greenpeace acknowledged: “Golden rice is a moral challenge to our position. ”

“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 LDCs) Asians may not want to eat golden rice – they prefer white rice over the more nutrient rich brown rice which has always existed Education to push golden rice costs money – why not just hand out vitamin A? Golden rice cost more than $100 million to develop – it is just a PR stunt for genetically altered foods

“Green Revolution” benefits § Core exports high-yield “miracle” seeds § Needed oil-based fertilizers, pesticides § Asian rice crop up 66% in 1965 -85 § Favored areas with good soil, weather

“Green Revolution”

“Green Revolution” drawbacks § Favored farmers who could afford seeds, inputs, machines, irrigation § Indebted farmers lost land, moved to cities § New “monocrops” lacked resistance to disease/pests § Environmental contamination, erosion § Oriented to export “cash crops, ” not domestic food

Biotechnology: Using organisms to… § Make or modify products § Improve plants or animals § Develop new microorganisms § Crossing natural divides between species § Not just crossbreeding

Genetic Engineering

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Consumer concerns began in Europe, now in U. S. too

“FRANKENFOODS”

Biotechnology benefits in agriculture § Increase yields § Increase pest resistance § Grow crops in new areas

Biotechnology drawbacks in agriculture § High costs (available to few) § Monocrops have less tolerance to disease § Possible health effects § Contamination of wild crops (“superweeds”) § Corporate patents on life forms

Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH)

Starlink corn

First calf cloned in Wisconsin, 1997. Many clones die of complications. Ethical and economic conflicts

San Francisco Farmers’ Market

Minneapolis airport flower stand