Green Revolution and GMOs
Emerson Nairon
Bengal famine 1943
Causes: caused by crop failures after the civil war, the Bengal famine of 1943 killed nearly 3 million people. It was a combination of demand of rice exports from Bengal to other regions of India and the British empire, and destruction of Bengal shipping.
Results: The east India trading company fell sharply as a result. The famine also caused major economic and social disruption, ruining millions of families. It was the last major famine of India, but it was severe enough to still have implications.
Bengal famine 1943
Many families and children died due to mal-nutrition during this time period
Living conditions
Living conditions were beyond unbearable, and food was scarce.
Green Revolution is India
3 basic elements
1) continued expansion of farming areas
2) double cropping existing farmland
3) using seeds with improved genetics
Results
-increase in production
-better land use by employing 2 and 3 crop patterns
-better scientific methods applied to farms
-new seeds with better disease fighting capability
Limitations
-more inequality among farmers
-undesirable social consequences
Further information
-human health risks: quality of diet, malnutrition
-environmental impact: pesticides and water use
Positives of GMOs
-foods with better texture, flavor and nutritional value
-bigger yields to create more efficent use of land
-less use of pesticides
-longer shelf life for easier shipping
-sustainable way to feed the world