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Essay / Contribution of the Green Revolution to World History
The Green Revolution is an effort that has increased crop yields worldwide since 1950. These high-yielding crops are produced by planting monocultures of genetically engineered plants modified and using inorganic fertilizers, irrigation water and pesticides in large quantities. Arguably, the Green Revolution is a complete success, although it is true that it temporarily improves the lives of millions of people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay People in today's society are now seeing the harmful after-effects they have and still cause. The first Green Revolution occurred between approximately 1950 and 1970. During this period, this phenomenon significantly increased agricultural yields in most industrialized countries. Economic activity has increased in these countries due to the abundance of money circulating due to the export of food. Soon after the first green revolution, the second green revolution took place in 1967. Now not only industrialized countries benefit from it, but less developed countries also benefit from it. Dwarf varieties of wheat and rice are introduced. These plants are specially bred to grow quickly and have high yields. An abundance of water, fertilizers and pesticides are necessary for these high-yielding plants to thrive. In fact, global grain production increased by 90% in the 1960s thanks to this technique. The success of these revolutions is very short-lived. It did not take long for the population to reach the limit of food resources and food in the third countries worked became too expensive. The cost of fertilizers, pesticides and good irrigation was quite high. Another problem occurring in some less fortunate countries is the pollution of the water supply. Large quantities of pesticides and fertilizers are sprayed on crops and those that do not reach the plants settle on surface water or seep into groundwater. As funds are not available to build water pollution control plants, this contaminated water goes directly into the drinking water supply. Illness and death are another direct consequence of the Green Revolution. The increase in chemical use is leading to contamination of water supplies in third world countries as well as the food supply. About 40% of foods contain detectable residues, and this doesn't just happen in third world countries. Three percent of these foods contain residues above the legal limit. This film makes thousands of people sick every year through poisoning. Other people who are strongly affected are agricultural workers. It is estimated that between 5,000 and 26,000 people die each year from these poisons. Cases of cancer, mutations, birth defects, and nervous system disorders are all thought to be caused by the overuse of chemicals. An overload of pesticides and fertilizers is necessary for these genetically modified plants. Without genetic diversity, plants lose their resistance to diseases and pests. Not only is this a problem for farmers, but the world is also losing more than just a season's harvest. Countless food varieties are disappearing forever due to monoculture, which could eventually lead to food shortages. An example of this is the 6,000 varieties of apples that are no longer available. Keep.