The Green RevolutionThe Green RevolutionA Watershed in Agricultural ProductionA Watershed in Agricultural Production

Industrialization of food Industrialization of food production in the Global production in the Global SouthSouth

WW II Food shortagesWW II Food shortages CIMMYT – Chapingo, MexicoCIMMYT – Chapingo, Mexico

Rockefeller FoundationRockefeller Foundation Norman Borlaug Norman Borlaug

—1970 Nobel Peace Prize —1970 Nobel Peace Prize HYV seedsHYV seeds

PL 480 (Food for Peace)PL 480 (Food for Peace)

U.S. grain surpluses dumped on the U.S. grain surpluses dumped on the Global SouthGlobal South

The “Green Revolution” to stop the The “Green Revolution” to stop the “red” one (communism)“red” one (communism)

Mexico, 1950-70Mexico, 1950-70

Corn productionCorn production 250% 250% Wheat production 8 XWheat production 8 X

Imported ½ wheat, now self-sufficientImported ½ wheat, now self-sufficient

Best results – irrigation districts, Best results – irrigation districts, limited application to rain-fed landslimited application to rain-fed lands

Green Revolution Green Revolution Technology: Not Scale Technology: Not Scale NeutralNeutral

Socio-political context ignoredSocio-political context ignored U.S. = +land, -laborU.S. = +land, -labor Global South = -land, + laborGlobal South = -land, + labor

Increasing scale:Increasing scale: Tractor – requires larger areaTractor – requires larger area HYV – stiff stalk HYV – stiff stalk mechanize mechanize

harvestharvest compact soil compact soil more more fertilizerfertilizer

Technological PackageTechnological Package

HYV seeds – purchase annuallyHYV seeds – purchase annually HYV seeds – require herbicides, HYV seeds – require herbicides,

pesticides pest resistance pesticides pest resistance pesticide treadmillpesticide treadmill 25% of banned pesticides are exported25% of banned pesticides are exported Persistent hydrocarbons (DDT) Persistent hydrocarbons (DDT)

nonpersistent organophosphates nonpersistent organophosphates (parathion, paraquat, etc.) (parathion, paraquat, etc.)

““Technological Technological Efficiency”Efficiency”

Corn:Corn: yields, protein contentyields, protein content labor costs, labor costs, unemploymentunemployment

HYV seeds tested under ideal conditions; HYV seeds tested under ideal conditions; unsuited to poor soils worked by peasantsunsuited to poor soils worked by peasants

Monocrop production – lack of rotation Monocrop production – lack of rotation depletes soildepletes soil loss of genetic diversityloss of genetic diversity Loss of traditional seeds that Loss of traditional seeds that

coevolved with their environmentcoevolved with their environment Greater susceptibility to pestsGreater susceptibility to pests

Cost of FertilizerCost of Fertilizer

1971: fertilizer was cheap1971: fertilizer was cheap 1973: OPEC raised the price of oil1973: OPEC raised the price of oil 1 T. oil 1 T. oil 1 T. ammonia 1 T. ammonia

2-3 T. Fertilizer 2-3 T. Fertilizer

Social DifferentiationSocial Differentiation

More wealthy, innovative farmers More wealthy, innovative farmers receive credit, technologyreceive credit, technology

Concentration of land, displacement Concentration of land, displacement of peasantsof peasants

Improved GNP, but failure to improve Improved GNP, but failure to improve lives of poor farmerslives of poor farmers

1970s: Mexico began to import grains1970s: Mexico began to import grains

Who Benefits?Who Benefits?

TNCs – sale of inputs & outputsTNCs – sale of inputs & outputs Sales of top 10 agribusinesses exceed Sales of top 10 agribusinesses exceed

the GDP of 21 of the 28 Latin the GDP of 21 of the 28 Latin American & Caribbean countriesAmerican & Caribbean countries

Progressivist View:Progressivist View: Scientists own the knowledgeScientists own the knowledge Devaluation of indigenous knowledgeDevaluation of indigenous knowledge