Every day we follow innovations in agriculture, however, it all started with the Green Revolution in the 1960s. The term “Green Revolution” refers to the global transformation in agriculture, characterized by the introduction of new technologies in production. Thus, this phenomenon began in the 1960s and 1970s, representing a significant change in cultivation methods and techniques used. Technological innovations, initially implemented in the USA and Mexico, spread throughout Latin America and Asia, covering everything from soil preparation to harvesting.
Start of the Green Revolution
The Green Revolution began in the second half of the 20th century, specifically in the 1960s and 1970s, when there was a wide dissemination of new technologies in the agricultural sphere. However, the first steps towards this paradigm shift and its main motivations were already present in previous decades.
With the Second World War (1939-1945), there was an urgency to guarantee food security on a large scale. To achieve this goal, it was crucial to increase agricultural production. This was one of the drivers of technological advancement in the field, although it was not the only one.
The main funders of research during this period were private entities, such as the Rockefeller Foundation, which invested in studies aimed at the genetic improvement of crops such as wheat and corn. Norman Borlaug, leading this research, directed the Cooperative Wheat Production Program in Mexico in the 1940s.
In collaboration with local scientists, Borlaug developed a high-yielding, disease-resistant wheat variety. Thus, these achievements, which boosted cereal production in Mexico, earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, making him today a central figure in the history of the Green Revolution.
Aspects of the Green Revolution
The Green Revolution was the phenomenon of modernization of agriculture in the mid-20th century. The main characteristic was the adoption of advanced technologies in animal production and breeding.
Thus, the new techniques developed from the 1940s onwards were the result of extensive scientific research that, over time, gave rise to a series of innovations applied in the field. In this sense, these researches were financed by private entities and by the State, through state research agencies, as occurred in Brazil.
The technological set of the Green Revolution:
– Genetic improvement of plants such as wheat and rice, creating hybrids adaptable to different climatic and soil conditions, increasing productivity;
– Innovation in agricultural machinery, such as tractors, sowing machines and harvesters, used in various stages of production;
– Use of fertilizers, fertilizers and pesticides to prepare the soil, correct acidity, control diseases and pests in plantations, among others;
– Modernization of irrigation systems.
In this way, the Green Revolution boosted technology- and capital-intensive agriculture. The capital was invested in research, tax incentives for the acquisition of technologies and inputs, as well as in the expansion of agribusiness and large companies in the sector in different regions of the world.
Furthermore, it contributed to the increase in monocultures due to the intensification of productive specialization. Therefore, agriculture as we know it today, increasingly technological, is a consequence of the Green Revolution.
Positive points and challenges generated by the Green Revolution
The Green Revolution brought advantages and disadvantages to several sectors, such as economic, social and environmental. Improvements in agricultural efficiency have resulted in increased productivity, especially in cereals and grains. In this sense, genetic improvement, the use of fertilizers and soil preparation techniques were very positive.
However, there were challenges, such as the rural exodus caused by unemployment due to the need for greater qualifications. Furthermore, the excessive use of pesticides has affected human health and the environment, causing soil and water pollution, in addition to nutrient depletion.
Ultimately, the Green Revolution marked the beginning of global agricultural modernization and today’s increasingly technological agriculture is a direct result of this historic movement, which significantly transformed the global agricultural landscape and continues to unfold through innovations that currently seek to balance sustainability. and productivity.
( source: bruna oliveira/ digital agro)
