1. Green Revolution: Curse or Blessing?

2. A. Development & Diffusion of Agriculture:
Three agricultural revolutions:
1. Neolithic Revolution (12,000 yrs ago): first plant & animal domestication
The role of women?
- female deities
- women were first to farm
- ~80% of all food eaten in Africa is grown by women

3. Second Revolution (I7th-I8th centuries): improved methods of cultivation & higher yields in W. Europe
- improved tools & equipment
- better soil preparation, fertilization, & food storage
- aided by the Industrial Revolution & mechanization

4. The Green Revolution (1940’s-1980’s): research & technology in plant genetics to create new higher-yielding grains
- intensive farming practices:
mechanization, chemicals, biotechnology
- using genetic engineering scientists in Philippines crossed a
dwarf variety of rice with an Indonesian variety…“IR8”
- in India Norin 10 strain of wheat developed
- today, pest resistance genetically infused into DNA of plants

5. Process known as “cereal sex” to create hybrids

7. B. Why The Green Revolution?
1943: world's worst recorded food disaster in India
- Bengal Famine: four million died of hunger
“Green Revolution’s” highest crop yields: 1967 to 1978
term “Green Revolution” a general one applied to successful agricultural experiments in developing countries (India, Mexico, China)

8. “Father” of the Green Revolution
Dr. Norman Borlaug:
“Father” of the Green Revolution

11. SUCCESS STORIES Northern India Sri Landa Nepal Indonesia Thailand
Philippines

12. C. Basic methods: 1) expansion of farming areas 2) double-cropping
3) genetically engineering crops
4) machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides
Other benefits:
- higher yields of wheat, corn, & rice
- improved appearance of fruits
- grains used to fatten livestock faster…

13. D. THE DOWNSIDE: Food Security???
destroyed large tracts
overuse of chemicals
excessive salinity
groundwater depletion
conflicts over water
some cannot afford investment
rural societies disrupted
effects of genetic modifications???
effects of cloning???
sub-Saharan Africa???

16. E. Why Not Africa? World crops: Wheat, Rice, Corn
Africa’s most important crops: millet & sorghum
Lack of government investment
Failure to include women

17. Rufunsa village, Zambia