The Green Revolution

The spread of high-yield crops, fertilisers and irrigation that sharply increased food production in many countries.

Background

After the Second World War, growing populations and fear of famine in countries such as India and Mexico pushed governments and foundations to invest in agricultural research. Programmes supported by the Rockefeller Foundation started work in Mexico in the 1940s.

Course of events

Plant breeders such as Norman Borlaug developed short, disease-resistant wheat varieties. Similar work produced high-yield rice, and in the 1960s such seeds spread across South Asia and beyond, together with chemical fertilisers, pesticides and irrigation. Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970.

Legacy

Grain output in many countries increased dramatically, and large famines became less frequent. Critics point to costs including heavy use of water and chemicals, loss of crop diversity and uneven benefits for small farmers.