8.4 Green Revolution and Agricultural Intensification

The Green Revolution transformed agriculture with high-yielding crops, chemical fertilizers, and expanded irrigation. It boosted food production but also led to social inequalities, environmental issues, and dependence on external inputs. The impacts were far-reaching and complex.

Agricultural intensification in the 20th century saw the rise of agribusiness, monocultures, and mechanization. While increasing productivity, it raised concerns about sustainability, resource management, and environmental health. Balancing food security with ecological stewardship remains a key challenge.

The Green Revolution

Components of Green Revolution

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• Development and widespread adoption of high-yielding crop varieties (HYVs)
  • Selectively bred to produce higher yields and be more responsive to fertilizers and irrigation
  • Examples: semi-dwarf wheat, rice varieties
• Increased use of chemical fertilizers
  • Synthetic nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers applied to enhance crop growth and productivity
• Expansion of irrigation infrastructure
  • Irrigation systems (canals, wells, sprinklers) provided crops with reliable water supply
  • Enabled cultivation in previously water-limited areas and allowed for multiple cropping seasons

Consequences of Green Revolution

• Social and economic consequences:
  • Increased food production and improved food security in many regions
    • Higher crop yields helped feed growing populations and reduce hunger
  • Widening income disparities and social inequalities
    • Larger, wealthier farmers often benefited more than smallholder farmers
    • Increased landlessness and rural-to-urban migration as small farmers struggled to compete
  • Dependence on external inputs and technologies
    • Farmers became reliant on purchased seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides
    • Increased vulnerability to market fluctuations and debt
• Environmental consequences:
  • Loss of biodiversity
    • Monocultures and replacement of traditional crop varieties with HYVs reduced genetic diversity
    • Habitat destruction and pesticide use negatively impacted non-target species
  • Soil degradation
    • Intensive cultivation and heavy use of chemical fertilizers contributed to erosion, nutrient depletion, and salinization
  • Water pollution and depletion
    • Runoff from fertilizers and pesticides contaminated water sources
    • Overexploitation of groundwater for irrigation led to falling water tables and aquifer depletion
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
    • Increased use of fossil fuel-based inputs and energy-intensive irrigation systems contributed to higher emissions from agriculture

Agricultural Intensification

Intensification of 20th century agriculture

• Agribusiness:
  • Rise of large-scale, vertically integrated agricultural corporations
    • Involved in multiple stages of food supply chain (input production, processing, distribution)
  • Concentration of market power and influence over agricultural practices and policies
• Monocultures:
  • Cultivation of a single crop species over large areas
    • Driven by economies of scale, specialization, and development of commodity markets
  • Increased vulnerability to pests, diseases, and market fluctuations
    • Lack of diversity reduces ecological resilience and increases need for chemical pest control
• Mechanization:
  • Adoption of machinery and technologies to replace human and animal labor
    • Examples: tractors, harvesters, irrigation systems
  • Enabled cultivation of larger areas with fewer workers
    • Contributed to rural unemployment and consolidation of farmland
  • Increased fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gas emissions

Sustainability of modern agriculture

• Food security:
  • Modern agriculture has increased food production, but challenges remain
    • Unequal distribution of food and persistent hunger in some regions
    • Vulnerability to climate change, water scarcity, and soil degradation
  • Need for sustainable intensification and diversification of food systems
    • Improving productivity while minimizing environmental impacts
    • Promoting diversity of crops, including neglected and underutilized species
• Resource management:
  • Unsustainable use of water, soil, and energy resources in modern agriculture
    • Depletion of aquifers, soil erosion, and fossil fuel dependence
  • Importance of sustainable resource management practices
    • Water-efficient irrigation techniques (drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting)
    • Soil conservation measures (cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced tillage)
    • Renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies
• Environmental health:
  • Modern agriculture's negative impacts on biodiversity, water quality, and climate change
    • Habitat loss, pesticide use, nutrient pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions
  • Need for agroecological approaches and ecosystem-based management
    • Promoting biodiversity and ecosystem services within agricultural landscapes
    • Integrated pest management, agroforestry, and organic farming practices
  • Importance of sustainable food consumption patterns and waste reduction