Chapter 3: 2nd Green Revolution Flashcards
What key change took place in agriculture during the Second Green Revolution?
The use of fossil energy significantly impacted farming practices, including the development of machinery, fertilizers, and pesticides, contributing to an enormous increase in food production to meet the needs of a rapidly growing global population.
How did the world’s population and food supply change during the 20th century?
The world’s population grew from 1.625 billion in 1903 to over 6 billion by the end of the 20th century, with food supply expanding sevenfold to keep pace with this population surge.
What was the primary cause of hunger remaining a global problem during the Second Green Revolution?
Hunger persisted due to the unequal distribution of food, the rise of monocropping, and the decline of family farms producing diverse crops for local consumption.
Multiple Choice: What was a major advancement in farming practices during the Second Green Revolution?
A) The widespread use of irrigation systems
B) The introduction of gas-powered machinery and synthetic fertilizers
C) The creation of mechanical harvesting tools
D) The domestication of new crops
B
What role did plant-breeding play in the Second Green Revolution?
Plant-breeding, including the development of high-yield crop varieties like rice, corn, and wheat, became central to the Green Revolution and significantly boosted agricultural production.
Which scientific breakthrough led to the widespread use of synthetic fertilizers in the 20th century?
A) The Haber-Bosch process for synthesizing ammonia
B) Gregor Mendel’s work on genetics
C) The development of genetically modified crops
D) The discovery of nitrogen-fixing bacteria
A
How did synthetic fertilizers change agricultural practices in the 20th century?
The use of synthetic fertilizers, particularly nitrogen-based ones, allowed for higher crop yields and more intensive farming, enabling farmers to produce more food with fewer resources and on less land.
What environmental issues arose as a result of synthetic fertilizer use during the Second Green Revolution?
The overuse of synthetic fertilizers caused soil degradation, compaction, runoff, erosion, and pollution, leading to long-term ecological imbalances and contributing to global warming through nitrogen oxide emissions.
What was one consequence of the industrial production of nitrogen fertilizers in the 20th century?
A) Increased reliance on organic farming
B) The creation of sustainable agricultural practices
C) The reduction of agricultural land use and expansion of wetlands
D) The increased use of coal and steel in fertilizer production
D
What did the 20th-century Green Revolution achieve in terms of global food production?
It resulted in a significant global increase in food production, helping to feed a rapidly growing population and increasing crop yields from 0.75 tons per hectare in 1900 to 2.7 tons per hectare by 2000.
