The Green Revolution began roughly in the year of 1940, which marked the start of the most technologically progressive decades of food production. Norman Borlaug and his team genetically engineered a variety of wheat that resisted pests and diseases more effectively than earlier varieties of wheats.
Soon after his modified version of wheat was deemed a success, his team genetically modified a type of rice (IR8) that quickly spread throughout Asia.
“I grew up on the land, on a small farm in Northeast Iowa. Life was not always easy. I experienced the economic depressions of the 1930s, and from the experience, I felt that families on the land needed help from scientists, and I dedicated my life to science, and especially to food production.”
What are GMOs?
Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are by definition, “Organisms whose genome has been engineered in the laboratory in order to favor the expression of desired physiological traits or the production of desired biological products.” (Britannica, 2014). This means that when a particular plant or crop is modified by way of DNA, a more favorable form of the plant can be created. In this case, Norman Borlaug and his team of scientists modified a variety of wheat. They created a variety of wheat that increased efficiency, making more grain per acre possible.
Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are by definition, “Organisms whose genome has been engineered in the laboratory in order to favor the expression of desired physiological traits or the production of desired biological products.” (Britannica, 2014). This means that when a particular plant or crop is modified by way of DNA, a more favorable form of the plant can be created. In this case, Norman Borlaug and his team of scientists modified a variety of wheat. They created a variety of wheat that increased efficiency, making more grain per acre possible.
How did this affect crop production?
During the time of the Green Revolution, rice and wheat yields in Asia doubled, while the population increased by sixty percent, and the poverty rate was cut in half. Using this advanced technology born in the Green Revolution, plants produce more food per acre, which is beneficial to the millions of farmers that have limited space and limited resources. Genetically modified organisms have forever changed the way food is produced and manufactured, and without this step in agriculture, there would be many more starving people in the world today.
During the time of the Green Revolution, rice and wheat yields in Asia doubled, while the population increased by sixty percent, and the poverty rate was cut in half. Using this advanced technology born in the Green Revolution, plants produce more food per acre, which is beneficial to the millions of farmers that have limited space and limited resources. Genetically modified organisms have forever changed the way food is produced and manufactured, and without this step in agriculture, there would be many more starving people in the world today.