The Third Agricultural Revolution
This is also called the Green Revolution and began in the 1930's. New agricultural practices were created to help farmers all over the world and eliminate hunger by improving the output and quality of crops. Farmers could now use the same amount of land and get more crops. |
Effects -Genetically modified rice (IR8), then IR36 to further improve the quality and quantity of the crop.
-New high-yield varieties of wheat and corn. -India became self-sufficient in grain production -Asia as a whole experienced a dramatic increase in rice production. -Higher usage of fertilizers and pesticides -Africa experienced little effects from the revolution because they relied on crops other than grains and have lower soil fertility, making it less appealing to foreign companies. -GMOs that are disease and pest resistant are created. |
Arguments against practices of the Green Revolution-Pests may become resistant to pesticides
-Soil erosion -Reduced genetic diversity -Soil contamination -Groundwater pollution -Reduced organic matter in soil -The surplus of food has done little to alleviate hunger because little of it is going to those who truly need it. |