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

2. 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

3. 3

4. 4

5. INCREASE IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PER CAPITA5

6. 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

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

8. “Green Revolution”

9. “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

10. Biotechnology: Using organisms to…
Make or modify products
Improve plants or animals
Develop new microorganisms
Crossing natural divides between species
Not just crossbreeding

11. Genetic Engineering

12. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
Consumer concerns
began in Europe,
now in U.S. too

13. “FRANKENFOODS” 11

14. 12

15. 13

16. 14

17. Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH)