Feeding the World

Question

In the 1960s a "Green Revolution" in biotechnology boosted agricultural productivity. The efforts of agriculturalists and scientists resulted in improved fertilization and pest controls and the development of specially bred strains of high-yield, disease-resistant crops.
he founding of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945 signaled an international desire to create change in the postwar era through a sharing of knowledge and resources to improve crop performance and eliminate hunger. The FAO focused special attention on rural areas in developing nations, as this is where the majority of the poor and hungry were, and still are, located.
New methods
In the 1940s the biochemist Norman Borlaug (see right) initiated an experimental program to assist
America's breadbasket
Resembling a work of modern art, green crops cover what was once shortgrass prairie in Kansas. The crops are fed from underground water reserves and by circular sprinklers, which cause the round growth pattern.
New Rice for Africa (NERICA)- strain of rice suited to Africa's dry
ecosystems.
In the 1960s the insecticide DDT was the first of a range of new organic chemical insecticides that were widely used for their capacity to control multiple species of pests with a single treatment. These chemicals were put to use in developing countries. However,
INDIA AND PAKISTAN almost doubled their wheat production between 1965 and 1970.
poor Mexican farmers in increasing their wheat production. Borlaug concentrated on plant breeding. Over a 20-year period he developed a strain of high-yield dwarf wheat that was resistant to a variety of diseases and pests. Borlaug's wheat was cultivated in India and Pakistan with spectacular results. In 1960 the International Rice Research Institute was established in the Philippines to improve the production of rice. the staple diet of much of the world's population. The institute's work has helped rice farmers increase production by an average of 2.5 percent each year since 1965. These transformations in agriculture became known as the Green Revolution. Research continues to develop a range of rice varieties or "cultivars" to suit the needs of different regions including
in 1962 the American biologist Rachel
Carson cataloged the environmental impact of spraying DDT and said it may cause cancer. It was eventually banned worldwide. New methods, such as intensive irrigation. were introduced to maximize productivity on poor farming land.
However, the new agricultural methods have generated further problems. Pesticides, especially earlier,

cruder forms, killed not only the targeted pests but also other insects and organisms that previously acted as natural inhibitors of the pest population. Pests develop resistance to chemical treatments and the same is true of plant diseases. It is not uncommon for new plant varieties to become obsolete in the space of three to four years, which is the time it takes for diseases and insects to adapt and destroy the crop. One serious effect of this problem is that the poorest farmers of the developing world are spending

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Green Technology
Industrialization, consumerism, and a growing global population require enormous amounts of energy and resources that have put pressure on the Earth's natural systems. Green technology is designed to reduce that pressure, enabling us to live more sustainably.
apid industrialization along
Rwith new synthetic chemicals
and materials developed in the 20th century caused unprecedented air, water, and land pollution. However, until the 1960s, few were concerned about these issues. Many historians trace the beginning of the modern environmental movement to the publication of Silent Spring by American biologist Rachel Carson in 1962 (see box). In her book, Carson uncovered the effects of the insecticide
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), which had decimated populations of animals other than the insects it aimed to control, and is said to cause cancer in humans.
Widening concerns
The environmental movement expanded during the 1970s as politicians and the general population alike became aware of other negative effects of the modern way of life. By the 1980s, scientists studying the global climate warned of
the terrible consequences of global warming-the rise in the Earth's surface temperature mostly caused by massive deforestation and the carbon dioxide (CO) released into the atmosphere as a result of burning fossil fuels. These grave concerns led to a worldwide drive to adopt more sustainable lifestyles. Many countries drew up legislation aimed at reducing pollution and introducing new cleaner technologies and greener industrial processes. Campaigns encouraged individuals to be more
energy efficient, too--turning off lights and heating when they were not needed, for example, and improving insulation in roofs and walls to reduce the amount of energy required to keep warm. Compact fluorescent and LED (light-emitting diode) lamps-which only used around 25 percent of the energy needed by conventional incandescent lamps to produce the same amount of light- became the norm. Recycling of materials also became more widespread, reducing the pressure on natural resources. As you read, record your notes in the space below. Your notes should focus on capturing key ideas and defining terms you do not know. written like a 8th grader

Answer 1

Feeding the World

• Green Revolution: In the 1960s, scientists and agriculturalists developed new techniques that greatly increased farming production. This included better fertilizers, pest controls, and breeding new strains of crops that could resist diseases.

• FAO: The Food and Agriculture Organization was founded in 1945 to share knowledge and resources aimed at improving crop performance and ending hunger, especially in rural areas of developing countries.

• Norman Borlaug: A key biochemist who helped increase wheat production in Mexico and later in India and Pakistan through his work on developing a high-yield, disease-resistant dwarf wheat.

• International Rice Research Institute: Established in 1960, this institute helped boost rice production around the world, benefiting millions since rice is a staple food.

• Pesticides and Chemicals: Insecticides like DDT were introduced in the 1960s to control pests but led to environmental problems. Pests developed resistance to these chemicals, and some strains of crops became ineffective quickly due to evolving diseases.

• Irrigation: New irrigation methods helped maximize productivity on poorer soil, but they also created new issues like water shortages in some areas.

Green Technology

• Definition: Green technology aims to reduce pollution and help us live sustainably by utilizing cleaner technologies and processes.

• Pollution Issues: Rapid industrialization in the 20th century caused a lot of pollution, which many didn’t realize was a problem until the publication of "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson in 1962. She warned about the dangers of pesticides like DDT, which harmed wildlife and humans.

• Environmental Movement: Gained momentum in the 1970s and 1980s with growing awareness of global warming due to carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

• Sustainable Living: People and governments began adopting more sustainable practices, including:

  • Reducing energy consumption by turning off lights and improving home insulation.
  • Using energy-efficient lighting like LED and compact fluorescent bulbs.
  • Recycling more materials to lessen the strain on natural resources.

Key Terms to Know

• Biotechnology: Technology that uses living organisms or their components to make products or solve problems.
• Sustainable: Meeting our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
• Pesticide Resistance: When pests become immune to the effects of a pesticide, making it less effective.
• Irrigation: The process of supplying water to crops to help them grow.

Summary

The "Green Revolution" significantly changed agriculture by increasing crop yields, but it also introduced challenges such as pesticide resistance and environmental damage. Alongside this, the growth of green technology has aimed to reduce pollution and promote sustainable lifestyles, highlighting the need for a balance between productivity and environmental health.