Green Revolution, Food Security and the Industrial Revolution
The second green revolution is likely to be catalyzed by connected technologies, or what is commonly known as the Internet of Things. This article will discuss what it is, who opposes it, and what the effects of it will be on food security and the Industrial Revolution. This is an ongoing debate that has many answers, but there is no single right answer.
Critics of the Green Revolution
Critics of the Green Revolution believe that the program has led to increased concentration of land and indebtedness, and that mono-crop farming, based on overuse of commercial fertilizers, is harmful to food quality and human health. The critics claim that the Green Revolution's benefits are not spread evenly among poor people and must be tempered with considerations of justice and future generations.
The critics of the Green Revolution are correct that the revolution benefited large farms, which could more easily afford fertilizers, pesticides, and modern equipment. However, the revolution also displaced poorer farmers from their lands and drove them into the urban poor. In addition, heavy fertilizer use has degraded soil.
The critics of the Green Revolution say the program is a land grab by industry and powerful foreign actors. They point to the destruction of forests in Africa by foreign bio-fuel companies and land purchases by oil-rich Middle Eastern nations. Ultimately, they question who's really benefiting from the green revolution sponsored by Western philanthropies.
Environmental consequences of the Green Revolution
The Green Revolution has improved the yields of crops and reduced the need for fertilizers and pesticides. It has also reduced food prices and reduced poverty. According to studies, without the green revolution, caloric availability would have declined by 11-13%. In addition to improving yields, crop improvement research has increased the returns from agricultural operations.
However, the Green Revolution also has environmental consequences. The intensive agriculture practices used by farmers have increased the emissions of greenhouse gases, and they have also led to deforestation. Using fertilizers and pesticides to increase crop production, in turn, is damaging the environment. This has resulted in the need for new methods of crop production in developing countries.
The use of chemical fertilizers caused the soil to lose its water retaining capacity. As a result, water is increasingly scarce. The green revolution was costly, and countries that embraced it had to obtain credit facilities to finance the technology. As a result, many ended up with large debts.
Impact of the Green Revolution on food security
The Green Revolution has affected agricultural productivity in many developing countries, but its effects have also been felt far beyond agriculture. In this article, we examine the broader impacts of the GR on society, the environment, and the food security of human populations. We also examine the ways to revive indigenous crops and improve their nutritional value.
While the GR has reduced poverty in many areas, it has also had unintended negative consequences. In addition, it has spurred policies to increase food supplies. It has also left some areas behind and has yet to solve the global food security crisis. While the GR has been widely credited for reducing poverty, some critics say it has had the opposite impact: a greater incidence of food insecurity.
While the Green Revolution has increased agricultural production, its economic effects pushed smallholder farmers into debt as they sought to catch up to larger, more profitable farmers. As a result, these smallholders were unable to afford to buy food. Eventually, the population of Bangladesh was faced with a paradox - the country had a surplus of food, but a high rate of starvation.
Contribution of the Green Revolution to the Industrial Revolution
The Green Revolution has made a positive impact on agricultural production. It has increased food production, including rice and wheat. New varieties of wheat, such as dwarf wheat, were introduced to developing countries, and increased crop yields dramatically. Some researchers credit the green revolution with decreasing the incidence of malnutrition in developing countries, such as Mexico.
The Green Revolution also reduced the amount of land required for agricultural production. This lowered the amount of deforestation that is a major source of greenhouse gases. However, this will not be enough to eliminate greenhouse gases in the long run, because world population growth will increase the amount of land needed for agriculture.
The Industrial Revolution led to a significant increase in emissions of carbon dioxide, and may have led to the production of other greenhouse gases, such as methane. The Green Revolution also increased the use of fertilizer, pesticides, and irrigation water.