THE GREEN REVOLUTION (The Third Agricultural Revolution) And Biotechnology 1

THOMAS MALTHUS 19th 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 . . . 2

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INCREASE IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PER CAPITA 5

GREEN REVOLUTION A complex of improvements which greatly increased agricultural production Since 1950’s Greatest effect felt in LDCs 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 6

Principal Beneficiaries of the Green Revolution RICE Thailand Vietnam Korea Indonesia WHEAT Mexico Egypt Turkey BOTH India China Pakistan 7

“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” 11

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Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH)