In this essay I shall start by introducing the Green Revolution, giving a brief history and analysis of its major strengths and weaknesses. I shall then relate this to Shiva’s opinion, as well as others’ and conclude with whether it was a success or failure.

The Green Revolution, first coined by William Goud, demonstrated the power and influences that science and technology have over the economic, social and institutional environment within which they operate. Traditional agriculture practices involved few or little inputs, with Mother Nature taking care of the crop. However, at some point in history, an improved method of farming arose; The Green Revolution. This focused on three interrelated actions. Firstly, breeding programs for staple cereals to produce ‘early-maturing, day-insensitive and high yielding varieties’. Secondly, the organisation and distribution of fertilizers, pesticides and water regulators, and lastly the implementation of these technological innovations. As Gordon Conway writes,

Much improved varieties (seed) appeared, farmers turned to inorganic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, inve

*2 W.J.Lawrence, 1968, ‘Plant Breeding,’ London, Edward Arnold (Studies in Biology No.12)

Some topics in this essay:
Green Revolution, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Gordon Conway, Five Mexico, Green Revolution’s, green revolution, Cornell Paperbacks, Revolution Food, William Goud, Norman Borlaug, gordon conway, conway 1998 ‘the, 1998 ‘the doubly, 21st century’, ‘the doubly, doubly green, revolution food, ‘the doubly green, cornell paperbacks, green revolution food, paperbacks pg, doubly green revolution, century’ cornell, 1998 ‘the,