Green revolution

[DaRk-OnE]

I would like to hear your thoughts on a Green revolution for those of you who dont know, the Green Revolution is the increase in food production stemming from the improved strains of wheat, rice, maize and other cereals in the 1960s developed by Dr Norman Borlaug in Mexico and others under the sponsorship of the Rockefeller Foundation. This increased the crop yield in India, Pakistan, Philippines, Mexico, Sri Lanka and other underdeveloped countries.

[Janus]

The Green Revolution was crucial in helping to support the world's growing population. Except for some original problems in some of the countries because of the susceptibility of the new breeds to disease particularly mites whose predators had been killed by pesticides.

History has shown us what can occur when dependability on one or just a few crops. Therefore, this loss of biodiversity could have potentially devastating consequences later.
Pollution by the heavy pesticide and fertilizer use is also extremely harmful to local wildlife and humans as well particularly in Third World countries.
Negative social changes have also occured as a result of the Green revolution. First off, many of the farmers have lost due to their inability to compete with the cheap new crop prices and the large agricultural companies. This has resulted in greater poverty and movement to the urban areas.
Furthermore, farmers are now dependent on corporations for seeds since the new hybrid seeds are sterile. This emphasizes the loss of biodiversity and as said may have negative influences in the future.

Though the Green Revolution has had some major successes, I don't think that they can be kept up for long. I think that there should be at least some integrated farming. After all, diversity is the best survival tool that we have.

[BuyOurEverything]

The Green Revolution was crucial in helping to support the world's growing population

Though the Green Revolution has had some major successes, I don't think that they can be kept up for long

So, uh, for or against...?

[violencia.Proletariat]

Do I support the advancment the green revolution has brought in agriculture? Of course. If I'm not mistaken there isnt free reign with these advancements (globalization), so they should obviously be free to use.

[omegaflare]

The Green Revolution, like most scientific advances, had/have the capability of advancing the progression of humans. I support the GR on the grounds of it making more food for the rapidly growing world population, but I do not support it for the use of globalization and exploitation of third world countries.

A pencil in the proper hands can be a weapon, the GR in the proper hands, can be a tool of Socialism.

[Fidelbrand]

Well said omegaflare.

[Janus]

Yes, the Green Revolution has helped provide food for the population. However, it has also made many people dependent on non-diversified farming. This can have potentially devastating results, particularly in third world countries, if a blight were to damage the hybrid crops. I definitely think that more integrated farming should be used and that emphasis sholuldn't just be placed on quanitity.