1. I. Commercial Agriculture: the Anglo-Saxon model
How have Anglo-Saxon industrialized countries managed to create a strong farming industry with a constantly dwindling number of agricultural workers? Reliance on Mechanical engineering and the biochemical industry in order to ensure food security for their population →but not without consequences

2. More productive agriculture with fewer farmers
Crop growing / animal breeding techniques
Mechanization of agriculture
Led to increased productivity + food security
In New World:
Quick to adopt modern methods of production
Extensive arable land

3. Traditional rural landscape in Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand
Wheat fields in Saskatchewan, Canada
Compare the 2 landscapes.
Which agricultural methods visible on the photos account for the achievements of these countries?
How would you qualify this type of agriculture?

4. Fertilizer Trends around the World: Developed vs. Developing Countries

5. B. Excesses of Intensive agriculture
British animal husbandry epizootics
Bovine Spongiform Enchephalopathy (BSE)/ Mad Cow disease Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (human form = fatal disease) 1987 (165 deaths)
2001 Foot and mouth disease million animals slaughtered
From British farmers’ income divided by 3

6. What intensive agricultural practices are criticized in this cartoon?

8. Reaction to Food Safety Issues
What does this cartoon indicate about the U.S. government’s reaction to public sanitation issues like mad cow disease?

9. Clash of the Two Systems
Growing challenge of East-European or developing countries with lower agricultural income
US + West European countries:
subsidize their farmers
Accused of Protectionism
Environmental damage
Sanitary crises (public health)

10. II. The Green Revolution in India
Key Question: Have India’s difficulties been solved by the Green Revolution?

11. A. Introduction
Developing Countries have to insure food security for rapidly-growing populations
India first Asian country to introduce more productive yet affordable farming methods

12. B. The Green Revolution: a necessity for India
1943: world’s worst food disaster Bengal Famine
4 million people died of starvation in eastern India (included Bangladesh)
PM Nehru 1948: “Everything else can wait but not agriculture.”
Led to Green Revolution
Increased yield

13. How would you describe agricultural production in India?
Where are the major crops grown?
Rice (R)
Wheat (W)
Sorghum (J)
Millet (B)

14. Practices of Green Revolution
HYV (High Yield Varieties)
Widespread use of chemicals: fertilizers, pesticides, weed-killers, fungicides
Mechanization
Irrigation

15. Indian population tripled from 1950 to 2004
Food grain production increased by 5
No Food grain imports since 2000
Buffer stock of grain: 32 M T in 2004
Milk production rose by 5

16. C. Towards a 2nd Green Revolution
Negative effects of 1st Green Revolution
Soil infertility (salinization)
Toxins in soils (pesticides, fertilizers)
Heavy use of energy and irrigation
Social inequalities: the poor still face hunger problems

18. How can you explain the low yields in India in 2008-2009?
What other negative consequences of the Green Revolution are apparent?

19. What additional problems are highlighted here (if any)?
The cost of input has increased. I now need 500 kg per ha compared to 3 kg initially
The soil has lost its physical, chemical and biological character
I have too many debts that I can’t pay back.
Where is the ground water, my well is dried up.
My seeds are not germinating. The soil has become too saline.
Where are my traditional seeds?
There is no solution. Maybe I should kill myself.
What if the new seed fails?

20. Debate: OGMs or more traditional sustainable practices?
Video: The Green Revolution: Against all Odds Winner National History Day 2012
Video: Dr. Vandana Shiva: Problem with OGM seeds (0’00-10’07) + The Corporation (0’00 – 0’37)