Green revolution Flashcards
Who
Norman Borlaug
What plants did he breed
Semi-dwarf (prevents lodging) wheat resistant to stemrust disease in Mexico
What breeding strategies did he introduce
Quicker ones crossed with local advantageous varieties
India wheat yield 1960-75
6m tonnes to 12m
Pros
More food, more areas can grow, develop an export economy, food security, more FDI, more advice, can innovate
How much more water used
10x more
Cons
More chemicals, capital needed may cut out LDC, fertiliser debt, pesticide degradation, unsustainable soil use, monoculture, less generational knowledge, less local farmer voice
What % of the global population were undernourished when
12% in 2012 - effects limited spatially depending on climate and investment
What prize did he get
1970 Nobel Peace Prize for saving 2b from starvation
Effect on China
Communist party advised multi-cropping and biological pest control, but HYV seeds important - Yuan Longping dubbed ‘father of hybrid rice’. Today a major exporter but aquifers depleted
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
Worldwide research centre network aiming to resolve issues with the green revolution
