The Green Revolution and GMO's
How it has changed what we know as agriculture
The Bengal Famine
More Farming land
Double Cropping
Improved seeds
Positive results of Green Revolution
The Green Revolution not only helped India in Agriculture but, also improved economic, sociological, and Political implications as well. One of the positive economic outcomes that took place in India was the creation of Jobs in many aspects of their economy, for example industrial workers, hydro electric power station workers, and workers in the transportation of the agriculture. A big social effect that has stemmed from the good economic environment is the average incomes of these workers, since the food industry is in high demand, many people working in this industry than can therefore charge more for their services, increasing pay. Lastly a positive political implication In India would that they paid back all the loans it had taken out from the World Bank, therefore giving it some finical credible for future endeavors.
Is the Green Revolution really the answer?
What are GMOs?
Positive Implications of GMOs
- Less pesticides are used on plants to repel insects. Ex: Cotton and Potatoes are modified to repel insects.
- Decreases costs of growing and farming due to reduce use of pesticides. Ex: Indian farmers have increased in wages, one of the factors that have caused this is decreased cost in growing food.
- Higher crop yields. Ex: Indian grain market, as well as some potato farms in the US.
- Developments of new types of crops that can be grown in extreme climates such as desserts or tundras. Ex: type of tomato has been developed that can grow in salty soil.
- Decreased maturation of time of plants so they can be planted more times of the year, therefore increasing the yield. Ex: Many potato farmers have taken advantage of this effect.
Negative Implications of GMOs
- Can turn out to be harmful to other organisms. Ex: a Monarch butterfly population was harmed by a GMO corn plant in the US.
- GMO plants can Pollinate weeds. Ex: Navew weed found near GMO plants is known to cross breed with the plants making the weeds insect resistant as well.
- Developing countries will become even more dependent upon MDC's who create these special seeds since they can not create them on their own. Ex: Many Japanese farmers have begun to use the Golden rice plant which is a Genetically modified plant found in The US.
- Decreased nutritional value in foods. Ex: A new strand of Soy bean that has been developed that contains less phytoestrogen, which is a hormone that helps prevent heart disease.
- Many of the genes put into these GMO plants can cause new food allergies. Ex: The BT toxin designed to kill pests, is becoming a more prevalent food allergy in plants.