1. Maria Marchione Ben Stilin Hong Chau
Green Revolution
Maria Marchione
Ben Stilin
Hong Chau

2. Norman Borlaug Father of the Green Revolution
Started the Cooperative Wheat Research and Production Program in Mexico in 1944
Expanded program to other countries through the help of Rockefeller and Ford foundations
Helped established the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970s

3. 1960s Why now? Developing countries gain independence No food supply
Lack technology that developed countries have
Rapidly expanding population
Leads to widespread malnutrition and starvation

4. Who cares? Rockefeller and Ford foundations
Leading development in agricultural technologies
Invested in staple grain

5. Development of inorganic fertilizers
Major Changes
Modern Plant Breeding
Improved agronomy
Development of inorganic fertilizers
Modern pesticides

6. What does this really mean?
Wheat and rice
Cross breeding
High-yielding varieties- HYVs
Shorter, stiffer, stocks to support more grain
More responsive to plant nutrients
Grow at any time of the year
Expanded chemical and fertilizer use
Irrigation techniques
Doubled production of grains

7. Originated and expanded from Mexico
Examples
Originated and expanded from Mexico
produced 4.6 million tons of wheat in 1965
Produced 8.4 million tons of wheat in 1970
Pakistan
12.3 million tons of wheat 1965
20 million tons of wheat in 1970
India

8. Pros Increases food production General rural economic stimulus
Between 1970 and 1990 rice and wheat yields doubled
No longer a threat of famine
General rural economic stimulus
Increase in worker productivity resulted in more demand for goods and services and thus economic growth
Asia average incomes doubled
Asian and Indian poverty rates declined from about 60% to less than 33%
Total world poor population declined from 1.15 billion to 825 million

9. Pros
Better Nutrition
Lower food prices and higher income resulted in higher real income thus increasing the ability to buy more and more varied food
In Asia population increased by 60% and calorie/person by 30%
Examples include higher consumption of oils, fruits, vegetables, and meats

10. Cons Increased world population
Population level now largely supported by unsustainable farming practices
Creates economic inequality in some cases
Large farms better able to implement new technology
Small farmers subjected to lower prices without techniques to raise production
Stimulates regional inequality due to requiring large amounts of water
Promotes monoculture
reduced biodiversity
food supply susceptible to a single disease etc.

11. Cons Pesticides Kill helpful insects and other animals
Long term impact on entire ecosystem, water pollution, soil pollution etc.
High usage due to lack of education has resulted in pest developing resistance
Negative health effects for humans unnecessary
DDT is an example
Excessive Irrigation
Salt intrusion
Lowering ground water levels
Examples- Salinas Valley and Western Australia

12. Video Clips Current Event Is India in Need of a New Green Revolution?

13. William Gaud, UDSA Director 1968
"These and other developments in the field of agriculture contain the makings of a new revolution. It is not a violent Red Revolution like that of the Soviets, nor is it a White Revolution like that of the Shah of Iran. I call it the Green Revolution.”
William Gaud, UDSA Director 1968

14. Sources
“Green Revolution- Curse or Blessing?” International Food Policy Research Institute l