Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes Chapter 12: Topic 5.5 Flashcards
Mid-20th century, born out of science, research, and technology. This revolution expanded mechanization of farming, developed new global agricultural systems, and used scientific and information technologies to further previous advances in agricultural production.
Third Agricultural Revolution
The advances in plant biology of the mid-20th century.
Green Revolution
The “Father of the Green Revolution,” laid the foundation for scientifically increasing the food supply to meet the demands of an ever-increasing global population. He developed higher-yield, more disease-resistant, and faster-growing varieties of grain. His work was successful in turning Mexico from a wheat-importing country to one that was self-sufficient and even had a wheat surplus.
Impact of Normal Borlaug
The process of breeding two plants that have desirable characteristics to produce a single seed with both characteristics.
Hybridization
Machinery such as tractors, tillers, broadcast seeders, and grain carts were introduced to countries of the developing world. The introduction of these agricultural technologies assisted in production and challenged traditional labor-intensive farming practices that had been in place for thousands of years.
Machinery’s impact on Green Revolution
A process by which humans use engineering techniques to change the DNA of a seed. They have been developed to increase yields, resist diseases, and withstand the chemicals used to kill weeds and pests.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
Global food increased dramatically. The introduction of new seed technology, mechanization, pesticides, chemical (human-made) fertilizers, and irrigation led to increased yields. More food led to reduced hunger, lower death rates, and growing populations in many parts of the developing world.
Positive impacts of the Green Revolution
Environmental damages, gender inequalities, economic obstacles, and failures in Africa. The intensive use of land and double or triple cropping, combined with more aggressive irrigation, led to soil erosion and increased environmental pollution. Farming practices during the Green Revolution increasingly drained the soil of its natural nutrients, which led to more use of and dependency on human-made fertilizers. Hazards of fertilizers include polluted drinking water, species extinction and health issues for the population. New technologies required vast amounts of fossil fuels, which increased air, water, and sound pollution.
Negative impacts of the Green Revolution
When the Green Revolution and its technologies were introduced to these countries, it was often men who benefited and were given decision-making powers. Men owned the land, had access to financial resources, and were educated on newer methods of farming, which women were often excluded from these opportunities. This further marginalized women and limited their role within many societies.
Green Revolution impact on gender roles
Africa has a greater diversity of climate and soils than other places. Hence, development of the right fertilizers proved to be very expensive. Africa has many regions with harsh environmental conditions. Insects, plants and viral strain proved to be extremely challenging to the Green Revolution researchers and their technology. Africa is large and lack a well-developed transportation infrastructure, so the costs of investment in research, development and transportation are high. Africa’s staple crops such as sorghum, millet, cassava, yams, cowpeas and peanuts were not always included in research5 for seed-hybridization programs.
Why didn’t GR help Africa?
