Green Revolution

With the rapid growth of the population on the earth, something had to be done. The Green Revolution occurred to help the problem. The Green Revolution is the great increase in production of food grains due to the introduction of high-yielding varieties, to the use of pesticides, and to better management techniques. (“Green Revolution”) About four decades after the Green Revolution helped produce food in great amounts, organic farming was employed in various places in the world to avoid the bad side affects of modern agriculture. Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control. Organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides but excludes the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers, pesticides, plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, genetically modified organisms, human sewage sludge, and nanomaterials. (“Introduction to Organic Farming”) Although the Green Revolution and organic farming are both related in the field of agriculture, their differences will also be discussed in this essay. Beginning in the 1940’s, the Green Revolution was an important period in the modern history of agriculture after World War ll. The Green Revolution was a phase of the third agricultural revolution in which new strains of hybrid seeds and fertilizers were invented that significantly increased the crop production. It began in Mexico with agricultural experimentation by Norman Borlaug (funded by the Rockefeller Foundation) finding ways to improve Mexico’s wheat grain production capabilities to reduce hunger in that region. Scientists found new hybrid strains of wheat, maize, and rice that were higher-yielding. This replaced human work with machines or what is also known as mechanization. They also developed new fertilizers and pesticides that aided the higher-yielding seeds that increased protection from diseases and pest infections and needed special nitrogen-enriching fertilizers. Instead of alleviating hunger, new machinery, “miracle” seeds, elaborate irrigation systems, and potent fertilizers were devastating the land, destroying traditional modes of agricultural production, and shattering ancient social structures. (Barron’s) A couple of the side effects have led to the amount of human labor needed on the farm in some areas to cut many jobs and driving local farmers in peripheral countries out of business because of the expensive green revolution seeds and technologies. As you can see, the Green Revolution had good intentions but ended with bad economical and environmental outcomes. On the contrary, organic farming began in the mid 1920’s in Central Europe through the work of Rudolf Steiner who created biodynamic agriculture, an early version of organic farming. Unlike the Green Revolution, organic farming relies heavily on the natural breakdown of organic matter, using methods like green manure and composting, to replace nutrients taken from the soil by previous crops. This process, allows the natural production of nutrients in the soil throughout the growing season. What makes these things organic is how close they stay in their natural state. When growing organic goods, farmers do not use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers on crops, and they reject the use of synthetic hormones, antibiotics or other medications in their livestock. (“How Organic Farming Works”) Animals are provided with organic feed and are allowed to roam outdoors. One environmental difference organic farming differs compared to the Green Revolution is that organic fertilizers (e.g. compost, animal manure, green manure) are used to enhance the soil structure and water infiltration. During the Green Revolution, pesticides and chemicals from fertilizers entwined into the water and contaminated it leaving it unhealthy to the environment. Organic farming is a natural way foods are produced without the mass production and modification that the Green Revolution offered. In the end, Organic farming is on the rise despite the fact that the Green Revolution still mass-produces foods at a health provoking rate. With all of this in mind, the pros of the Green Revolution are that farmers can grow and export crops for profit, can grow any crop virtually anywhere, and have the capability of growing crops on a massive scale. On the other hand, organic farming offers greater nutritional value, food that is free of contamination, and a healthier body condition. The Green Revolution produces crops that are genetically modified and produced on a massive scale. Organic farming takes more skill and time from farmers. Together the pros and cons explain the differences they both possess. How long will it take until organic farming is outweighed by mechanization? What would happen if technology failed completely and the production of food stopped? Will child labor be implemented?