Directions of the green revolution. What is the green revolution

The concept of the "green revolution"

In the mid-nineteenth century, chemical fertilizers began to be actively used in agriculture in developed countries, which, together with other scientific and technological achievements, made it possible to increase grain yields in some European countries to 80–90 c/ha - ten times more than in the Middle Ages. Since the mid-twentieth century, chemical fertilizers have become widely used in developing countries, which has significantly increased crop yields. Along with the introduction of agrochemicals important role played a role in the development and spread of new high-yielding varieties rice and wheat. A sharp jump in agricultural productivity growth

Farming in developing countries in the 1960s and 70s was called the “green revolution”.

Mexico can be considered the founder of the “green revolution.” In the early 60s, new high-yielding varieties of short-stem wheat with an unusual reddish color were developed. Then they became widespread in India, Pakistan, and some other Asian countries. Around the same time, in the Philippines, they managed to develop a “miracle rice” variety, which also ensures a large increase in yield.

Certainly, social consequences"green revolution":

It was possible to reduce the severity of the food problem,

It became possible to free some people from agriculture,

Increased urbanization process,

There was an influx of workers to industrial enterprises,

People have become more mobile.

However, already in the period 1970–80s, it became obvious negative consequences“green revolution”, manifested both in the environment (in the state of soil, water and biodiversity), and reflected in human health. Increased element flow mineral nutrition from fields to reservoirs (excess nitrogen and phosphorus causes “explosive” reproduction of phytoplankton, changes in the quality of drinking water, death of fish and other animals). The flow of sulfates from terrestrial agrocenoses into rivers and seas has increased. Huge areas land have been subjected to soil erosion, salinization and a decrease in their fertility. Many water sources were polluted. A significant number of wild

and domestic species of plants and animals disappeared forever. Residues of harmful pesticides in food and drinking water endangered farmers' health

and consumers.

The importance and environmental role of the use of fertilizers and pesticides

Pesticides

Pesticides(from Latin pestis - infection and caedo - kill) - chemicals for the protection of agricultural products, plants, for

Pesticides are classified depending on the groups of organisms on which they act:

1. Herbicides – to destroy weeds;

2. Zoocides - to combat rodents;

3. Fungicides – against pathogens of fungal diseases;

4. Defoliants – to remove leaves;

5. Deflorants – to remove excess flowers, etc.

Search effective means for pest control are still ongoing.

At first, substances containing heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic and mercury. These inorganic compounds are often called first generation pesticides. It is now known that heavy metals can accumulate in soils and inhibit plant development. In some places, the soils are so poisoned by them that even now, 50 years later, they still remain barren. These pesticides have lost their effectiveness as pests become resistant to them.

Second generation pesticides– based on synthetic organic compounds. In 1930, a Swiss chemist Paul Müller began to systematically study the effects of some of these compounds on insects. In 1938, he came across dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT).

DDT turned out to be a substance that was extremely toxic to insects, but seemed relatively harmless to humans and other mammals. It was inexpensive to produce, had a broad spectrum of activity, was difficult to break down in the environment, and provided long-lasting protection.

The merits seemed so outstanding that in 1948 Müller received Nobel Prize.

Subsequently, it was discovered that DDT accumulates in food chains and the human body (found in the milk of nursing mothers and in fatty tissues). DDT has now been phased out worldwide.

The agrochemical industry has replaced second generation pesticides - unstable pesticides- these are synthetic organic matter, decomposing into simple, non-toxic products within a few days or weeks after use. This is for now best option, although there are also disadvantages - some are more toxic than DDT, they disrupt the ecosystem of the treated area, beneficial insects can be no less sensitive to unstable pesticides than pests.

The main consequences of using pesticides in agriculture:

1.Pesticides kill and useful species insects, sometimes providing excellent conditions for the breeding of new agricultural pests;

2) Many types of pesticides are harmful to soil organisms needed to maintain healthy plants;

3) When using pesticides, the farmer himself risks his health: 200 thousand people die annually from poisoning with agrochemicals;

4) Some pesticides remain in food and drinking water;

5) Many pesticides are very stable and can accumulate in the human body and exhibit negative effects only over time. Some pesticides can cause chronic diseases, abnormalities in newborns, cancer and other diseases.

These circumstances have led to some

Pesticides are already banned in economically developed countries, but their use is virtually unlimited in developing countries.

Fertilizers

Fertilizers are inorganic and organic substances used in agriculture and fisheries to increase crop yields cultivated plants and fish productivity of ponds.

They are: mineral(chemical), organic And bacterial(artificial introduction of microorganisms to increase soil fertility).

Mineral fertilizers– extracted from the subsoil or industrially produced chemical compounds, contain basic nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and microelements important for life (copper, boron, manganese).

Organic fertilizers– this is humus, peat, manure, bird droppings (guano), various composts, sapropel (freshwater sludge).

The Beginning of Organic Agriculture

In contrast to the “green revolution” in developed countries, the concept of organic agriculture began to spread among farmers and buyers.

However, the so-called “boom” of organic agriculture began only in the 1990s, which was associated with a reaction to the environmental problems and food scandals that had accumulated in the world. Residents of developed countries were willing to pay more for high-quality goods. The states of some countries began to pay special attention to the development of this area of ​​agriculture. During the same period, a number of innovative technologies for organic farming (especially biological pest control) appeared, and institutes and research centers engaged in research in the field of organic agriculture developed.

Questions

1. What is the purpose of the “green revolution”?

2. Name the ways to carry out the “green revolution”.

3. What are the pros and cons of achieving the “green revolution”.

4. Define the terms pesticides and fertilizers.

5. Name the main groups of pesticides.

6. Why do pesticides have Negative influence on the natural environment?

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

a term denoting a sharp increase from mid. 1960s production of agricultural crops in many countries of the world through the use of high-yielding varieties of seeds, improving the culture of agriculture, taking into account natural and climatic conditions.

Excellent definition

Incomplete definition ↓

GREEN REVOLUTION

(Green Revolution) In the early 1960s. The improvement of agricultural production in third world countries, financed by international funds, led to what came to be called the “green revolution”. Improvement took place primarily through the use of hybrid seeds, mechanization and pest control. Countries were assisted in disseminating high-yielding varieties developed by an international team of specialists in Mexico. The same applies to pesticides and the resource conservation system based on large production, which can only be organized through agricultural mechanization. This initiative actually led to a significant increase in agricultural production rates in third world countries. However, the “green revolution” was opposed by “environmentalism” and others, since it led to environmental disasters precisely in those countries where it had the greatest success. Successful mechanization of agriculture led to changes in the structure work force and society as a whole, increasing class differences, as well as the exclusion of some national minorities and politically marginalized groups such as women from agricultural production. In addition, new plant varieties were not resistant to local diseases and required extensive use of pesticides, which polluted water bodies and soil and increased the dependence of many third world countries on imports (since pesticides were produced in the West). Moreover, the commercialization of agriculture has led to the export of food from these countries, increasing the dependence of producers on the market, which does not always act in the interests of most producers.

Rapid population growth after the Second World War in countries liberated from colonialism often led to famine in large areas, especially prone to droughts or floods. Such catastrophic events were observed in Ethiopia, Nigeria, India, Pakistan and other states that did not have strategic food reserves in case of emergency. natural Disasters. According to calculations international organizations UN, in Africa, Asia and Latin America in the 50-60s. a population explosion was expected, fraught with consequences on a planetary scale. Starvation of people over vast territories would inevitably be accompanied by epidemics of especially dangerous diseases, which would not bypass the development of the country.

Breakthrough in scientific research, associated with the genetics of the main grain crops (wheat, rice, corn), which was carried out in the 50-60s. scientists in India, Korea, Mexico, and the Philippines, along with the widespread use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, opened new paths in the development of agricultural science and practice. And this has yielded significant results in solving the food problem in a number of developing countries. In Mexican research centers, high-yielding varieties of short-stemmed wheat were developed, suitable for the climatic conditions of the tropical and subtropical zones. High-yielding varieties of rice were developed in the Philippines. These cultures quickly spread to the countries of Asia and Latin America.

This phenomenon was called the Green Revolution in science and agriculture in the 50s and 60s. its first stage came. It was characterized by astonishing progress in increasing the yields of major food crops as a result of the widespread introduction of new semi-dwarf varieties of wheat and rice. The possibilities of combining the extensive development of the agricultural sector of the economy, traditional for developing countries, with intensive methods of agricultural production have expanded. In those regions where, with the help of chemical fertilizers, modern plant protection products, and irrigation measures, conditions were created for the use of high-yielding varieties, the green revolution became a significant factor in solving the food problem.

Thanks to the green revolution, the predicted large-scale famine was avoided. It also contributed to the growth of farm incomes and accelerated economic development, especially in Asian countries. So, South Korea, already in the 70s. refused to import rice. And although the beneficial consequences of the green revolution for certain countries turned out to be different, in general, throughout the world, since the 60s, grain yields have increased by 65%, and tubers and root crops - by 28%. In Asia, the growth was 85% and 57%, respectively. In Africa, cereal progress has been below world averages due to poorer soil conditions, less intensive monocropping practices, limited irrigation capabilities, and weak infrastructures related to agricultural credit, markets, and the supply of manufactured goods.

During the green revolution, the problems of transferring new technology, how much improvement of traditional agricultural technology in accordance with the recommendations of modern science, taking into account local conditions. This includes small-scale irrigation, the creation of agrotechnical systems that do not require highly qualified personnel, and the development of farming technology for small peasant farms. International research centers have carried out work to produce grain crops with a high protein content. Special attention paid attention to the implementation of programs related to the production of high-protein crops traditional for underdeveloped countries (millet, sorghum). Green revolution made it possible to gain the time necessary to stabilize the “demographic explosion” and alleviate the severity of the food problem.

Despite obvious successes, the first stage of the green revolution was stopped by a number of unresolved problems. Around the world, the yield of rice grown on irrigated lands is stagnant and even falling. Growing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice requires a lot of fertilizers and a complex of agricultural machinery. Plant susceptibility to disease remains significant. And this gives rise to many economic problems.

The Green Revolution emphasized the cultivation of wheat and rice at the expense of other products needed for balanced diet. As a result, rural residents faced risks associated with changes in food patterns. Moreover, such important areas as the breeding of highly productive livestock breeds and effective fishing methods were not touched upon. At that time, it seemed impossible for developing countries to solve such problems, and for developed countries it looked problematic due to the high energy and material intensity of production, the need for large capital investments, and the scale of the impact on the biosphere.

The experience of the first stage of the green revolution showed that the intensification of agricultural production leads to certain social changes, radical transformations in the economy of a particular country. The strengthening of the market element in the structure of the agricultural sector led to a deterioration in the economic situation of traditional farms that met the food needs of the local population. At the same time, the situation has strengthened modern farms commodity type. They managed, with the support of government organizations, to carry out such agrotechnical measures as the introduction of high-yielding varieties of seeds, pesticides, and irrigation.

Agricultural productivity gains have contributed to polarization social relations in the village. The intensified formation of commercial-type farms involved everything in the market turnover most produced agricultural products, capturing not only the surplus, but also that part that is necessary for the reproduction of the labor force. Market needs reduced domestic spending, worsening the already difficult situation of the poorest sections of the peasantry. Low level income of the main part of the population was the most important reason for the aggravation of the regional food situation. Attempts to intensify agricultural production, using Soviet experience or the practice of the developed Western world, did not produce the expected results in solving food problems in developing countries. For example, in the agricultural sector African states neither socialism nor capitalism became the dominant type of economic management. They are characterized by a complex synthesis of capitalist and pre-capitalist relations.

The search for rational forms of land tenure and land use in developing countries has led to the understanding that the efficiency of the agricultural sector is associated not so much with the introduction of new technology, but with an increase in the marketability of traditional agricultural production, focused mainly on self-sufficiency within the framework of historically established community structures. The positive Japanese, South Korean, and Chinese experiences reject the idea of ​​the universal priority of large agricultural enterprises. It is known that Japan, where communal-collectivist traditions are strong and where there is a large shortage of territory suitable for agriculture, has achieved significant results in agricultural development on the basis of relatively small farms, the average size of which is about 1.2 hectares. Small farmers have created state support effective system cooperation that provided access to loans and the latest achievements of modern agricultural technology. Japanese small-scale farming was able to make full use of the arsenal of the green revolution. But the Chinese family economy, based primarily on manual labor and traditional technology and without losing its natural and patriarchal character, it also achieved high gross figures. World experience shows that small (up to two hectares) and medium-sized (five hectares) peasant farms can make a significant contribution to solving regional food problems.

Of primary importance in this process is the allocation of peasants' own plots of land. Then they can provide families with food, and also have a certain surplus for the exchange of goods, which forms the local food market. A significant role here belongs government regulation, providing preferential financing, sales markets, favorable pricing policy. A national food market is gradually emerging. Relatively small farms are included in cooperative structures with access to the world food market. For example, China has already become an exporter of rice.

As for Western Europe, the USA and Canada, where food problems are solved mainly not through state subsidies to small and medium-sized farms, but through the development of agricultural complexes, the total volume of food production for the population is constantly increasing. Thus, in the countries of the European Economic Community (EEC) in the 60-80s. The annual growth rate in agriculture was about 2%, and in consumption - 0.5%. Therefore, the unified policy of Western European countries in the field of agriculture is focused not only on increasing labor productivity, but also certain cases to reduce food surpluses. The latter is done in order to balance supply and demand, reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and plant protection products, and prevent degradative changes in the biosphere.

So, the experience of world agricultural development indicates the presence of two trends.

The first is taking into account the regional specifics of food supply associated with external and internal imbalances in economic development countries, the influence of historical traditions of agricultural production with the specifics of natural and climatic conditions, the ratio of demographic parameters.

The second trend is the formation of a modern national-regional agricultural system in line with global processes. This includes the inclusion of agrarian-industrial complexes of individual countries in the world market, and international division labor, and the global orientation of scientific and technological development, and the effectiveness of economic interaction in food production of regions with various natural and climatic factors, and the need to preserve the natural characteristics of the biosphere.

The harmonious unity of these two trends is necessary condition solutions to the world food problem.

In the 60-70s. XX century A new concept has entered the international lexicon - the “green revolution”, which relates primarily to developing countries. This is a complex, multicomponent concept, which in the most general terms can be interpreted as the use of the achievements of genetics, selection and plant physiology to develop varieties of crops, the cultivation of which, under the conditions of appropriate agricultural technology, opens the way to more complete utilization of photosynthesis products. By the way, such an evolution was carried out much earlier in developed countries of the world (starting from the 30s of the 20th century - in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, from the 50s - in Western Europe, Japan, New Zealand). However, at that time it was called the industrialization of agriculture, based on the fact that it was based on its mechanization and chemicalization, although in combination with irrigation and selective breeding. And only in the second half of the 20th century, when similar processes affected developing countries, did the name “green revolution” firmly establish itself behind them.

The Green Revolution has spread to more than 15 countries in a belt stretching from Mexico to Korea. It is clearly dominated by Asian countries, and among them are countries with very large or fairly large population, where wheat and/or rice serve as the main food crops. The rapid growth of their population led to even greater pressure on arable land, which was already severely depleted. With extreme land scarcity and landlessness, the predominance of small and tiny peasant farms with low agricultural technology, more than 300 million families in these countries in the 60-70s. XX century were either on the verge of survival or experiencing chronic hunger. That is why the “green revolution” was perceived by them as a real attempt to find a way out of their critical situation.

The Green Revolution in developing countries includes three main components .

The first of them is the development of new varieties of agricultural crops . For this purpose, in the 40-90s. XX century 18 international research centers were created, specifically engaged in the study of various agricultural systems represented in the countries of the developing world. Their locations are as follows: Mexico (corn, wheat), Philippines (rice), Colombia (tropical food crops), Ivory Coast (rice) West Africa), Peru (potatoes), India (dry tropical food crops), etc.

The second component of the “green revolution” is irrigation . It is especially important because new varieties of grain crops can realize their potential only under conditions of good water supply. Therefore, with the beginning of the “green revolution” in many developing countries, especially Asian ones, they began to pay especially much attention to irrigation

In general, the share of irrigated land is now 19%, but it is in the areas of the “green revolution” that it is much higher: in South Asia - about 40%, and in East Asia and the Middle East - 35%. As for individual countries, the world leaders in this indicator are Egypt (100%), Turkmenistan (88%), Tajikistan (81) and Pakistan (80%). In China, 37% of all cultivated land is irrigated, in India - 32, in Mexico - 23, in the Philippines, Indonesia and Turkey - 15-17%.

The third component of the “green revolution” is the industrialization of agriculture itself, i.e., the use of machines, fertilizers, plant protection products . In this regard, not much progress has been made by developing countries, including the countries of the Green Revolution. This can be demonstrated by the example of agricultural mechanization. Back in the early 1990s. in developing countries, 1/4 of the arable land was cultivated manually, 1/2 with draft power, and only 1/4 with tractors. Although the tractor fleet of these countries increased to 4 million vehicles, all of them taken together had fewer tractors than the United States (4.8 million).

However, statistics show that over the past two to three decades, the tractor fleet in foreign Asia (primarily in India and China) has increased several times, and in Latin America - by two times. Therefore, the order of large regions in terms of the size of this park has also changed and now looks like this: 1) foreign Europe; 2) foreign Asia; 3) North America.

Developing countries also lag behind in terms of chemicalization of agriculture. Suffice it to say that on average 60-65 kg of arable land is added to them per 1 hectare of arable land. mineral fertilizers, whereas in Japan - 400 kg, in Western Europe - 215, in the USA - 115 kg.

Consequences of the green revolution:

The positive consequences of the Green Revolution are undeniable. The main thing is that it is relatively short time led to an increase in food production - both overall and per capita. According to FAO, in 11 countries of East, Southeast and South Asia, the area under rice increased by only 15%, and its harvest increased by 74%; similar data for wheat for 9 Asian countries and North Africa- minus 4% and 24%. All this led to some easing of the severity of the food problem and the threat of famine. India, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, China, and some other countries have reduced or completely stopped grain imports. And yet, the story about the successes of the “green revolution” must, apparently, accompanied by some caveats.

The first such clause concerns its focal nature, which, in turn, has two aspects. First, according to data from the mid-1980s, new high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice are distributed on only 1/3 of the 425 million hectares occupied by grain crops in developing countries. Secondly, the catalysts of the “green revolution” can be considered three grain crops - wheat, rice and corn, while it had a much weaker effect on millet, leguminous and industrial crops. The situation with leguminous crops, which are widely used as food in most countries, is especially alarming. Due to their high nutritional value, they are even called tropical meat.

Second caveat concerns the social consequences of the Green Revolution. Since the use of modern agricultural technology requires significant capital investment, its results were primarily used by landowners and wealthy peasants (farmers), who began to buy land from the poor in order to then squeeze out as much income as possible from it. The poor do not have the means to buy cars, fertilizers, varieties, or sufficient plots of land. Many of them were forced to sell their land and either became farm laborers or joined the population of the “poverty belts” in big cities. Thus, the “green revolution” led to increased social stratification in the countryside, which is increasingly developing along the capitalist path.

Finally, third clause concerns some unwanted environmental consequences"green revolution". These primarily include land degradation. Thus, approximately half of all irrigated land in developing countries is susceptible to salinization due to ineffective drainage systems. Soil erosion and loss of fertility have already led to the destruction of 36% of irrigated crop areas in South-East Asia, 20 in Southwest Asia, 17 in Africa and 30% in Central America. The advance of arable land into forest areas continues. In some countries, the intensive use of agricultural chemicals also poses a major threat to environment(especially along the rivers of Asia, the waters of which are used for irrigation) and human health.

The attitude of developing countries themselves towards these environmental problems not the same, and their capabilities are different. In countries where there are no clearly defined land ownership rights and little economic incentive to implement environmental measures in agriculture, where scientific and technical capabilities are severely limited due to poverty, where a population explosion continues to be felt, and where the tropical environment is also special vulnerability, it is difficult to expect any positive changes in the foreseeable future. Developing countries in the “upper echelon” have much greater opportunities to avoid undesirable environmental consequences. It is believed, for example, that many rapidly developing Asia-Pacific countries can not only quickly and effectively introduce new equipment and technology into agriculture, but also adapt them to their natural conditions.

Non-state educational institution
secondary vocational education
Vologda Cooperative College

Essay
On the theme "Green" revolution
in the discipline "Ecological foundations of environmental management"

Completed by: Pashicheva Yu.V.
Group: 3 GOST
Checked by: Veselova N.V.

Vologda
2010
Table of contents

Introduction……………………………………………………………………….3
Agriculture - view human activity………………………4
Pros and cons of biotechnology…………………………………………… ……...5
Consequences of the “green” revolution………………………………………………………….6
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………….7
References……………………………………………………………8

"Green revolution

The “Green” Revolution is a set of changes in the agriculture of developing countries that led to a significant increase in world agricultural production, including the active breeding of more productive plant varieties, the use of fertilizers, and modern technology.
The “green” revolution is one of the forms of manifestation of scientific and technological revolution, i.e. intensive development of agriculture through:
1) technicalization of agriculture (use of machines and equipment);
2) the use of artificially bred varieties of plants and animals;
3) use of fertilizers and pesticides;
4) reclamation (expansion of irrigated lands).
There are two “green revolutions”.
The first “green” revolution occurred in 40-70. XX century, its initiator was the major Mexican breeder Norman Ernest Borlaug. He saved as many people from starvation as no one else had managed before. He is considered the father of the Green Revolution. Despite the known costs inherent in any revolution and the ambiguous perception by the world community of its results, the fact remains: it was it that allowed many developing countries not only to overcome the threat of hunger, but also to fully provide themselves with food.
By 1951-1956 Mexico fully provided itself with grain and began exporting it; over 15 years, grain yields in the country increased 3 times. Borlaug's developments were used in breeding work in Colombia, India, Pakistan, in 1970 Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize.
By the mid-1980s, scientists were talking about a second “green” revolution that would occur if agriculture followed the path of reducing anthropogenic energy inputs. It is based on an adaptive approach, i.e. Agriculture needs to reorient itself to more environmentally friendly technologies for cultivating crops and breeding farm animals.
The “green” revolution made it possible not only to feed the growing population of the Earth, but also to improve its quality of life. The number of calories in food consumed per day has increased by 25% in developing countries. Critics of the Green Revolution tried to focus public attention on the excessive abundance of new varieties, the breeding of which allegedly became an end in itself, as if these varieties alone could provide such miraculous results. Of course, modern varieties make it possible to increase the average yield due to more effective ways growing plants and caring for them, due to their greater resistance to insect pests and major diseases. However, they only make it possible to obtain a noticeably larger harvest when they are provided with proper care and the implementation of agrotechnical practices in accordance with the calendar and stage of plant development. All these procedures remain absolutely necessary for transgenic varieties obtained in recent years. However, the application of fertilizers and regular watering, which are so necessary to obtain high yields, simultaneously create favorable conditions for the development of weeds, insect pests and the development of a number of common plant diseases. One of the directions of the second “green” revolution is the use of “environmentally friendly” methods to combat the consequences of anthropogenic interference in ecosystems. For example, after total deforestation occurs gross violation local biocenosis, ecosystem. In humid areas, moisture stagnates and soils become waterlogged. Such water can become a source of harmful insects - bloodsuckers and disease carriers. Some fish are destroyers of larvae of harmful insects living in water, such as mosquito larvae and midges. Thus, the main trends of the second “green” revolution are to have minimal impact on the natural environment, reduce the investment of anthropogenic energy, and use biological methods to control plant pests.
Almost all of our traditional foods are the result of natural mutations and genetic transformations that serve as the driving forces of evolution. Primitive people who were the first to trace the development cycle of plants can safely be considered the first scientists. As they found answers to the questions of where, when and how certain plants should be grown, in what soils, and how much water each of them requires, they expanded their understanding of nature more and more. Hundreds of generations of farmers have helped accelerate genetic transformation through regular selection using the most fertile and vigorous plants and animals.
Initially, selection was based on artificial selection, when a person selects plants or animals with traits that interest him. Until the XVI-XVII centuries. selection occurred unconsciously, that is, a person, for example, selected the best, largest wheat seeds for sowing, without thinking that he was changing the plants in the direction he needed. Selection as a science took shape only in recent decades. In the past it was more of an art than a science. Skills, knowledge and specific experience, often classified, were the property of individual farms, passing from generation to generation.
Agriculture is a type of human activity.

Agriculture is a unique human activity that can be simultaneously considered as the art, science and craft of managing the growth of plants and animals for human needs. And always main goal This activity continued to increase production, which has now reached 5 billion tons. in year. To feed the growing world population, this figure will have to increase by at least 50% by 2025. But agricultural producers will be able to achieve such a result only if they have access to the most advanced methods for growing the highest-yielding varieties of cultivated plants anywhere in the world.
Agricultural intensification affects the environment and causes certain social problems. However, one can judge the harm or benefit of modern technologies only taking into account the rapid growth of the Earth's population. The population of Asia has more than doubled over 40 years (from 1.6 to 3.5 billion people). What would it be like to have an extra 2 billion people if not for the green revolution? Although the mechanization of agriculture has led to a decrease in the number of farms, the benefits of the “green” revolution, associated with a manifold increase in food production and a steady decline in bread prices in almost all countries of the world, are much more significant for humanity.
And yet a number of problems (primarily pollution of soils and surface water bodies, largely due to the excessive use of fertilizers and chemicals plant protection) requires serious attention of the entire world community. By increasing yields on land most suitable for crop cultivation, agricultural producers around the world are leaving vast areas of land for other uses virtually untouched. Thus, if we compare world crop production in 1950 and in our time, then with the previous yield, to ensure such growth, it would be necessary to sow not 600 million hectares, as now, but three times more. Meanwhile, there is essentially nowhere to get an additional 1.2 billion hectares, especially in Asian countries, where the population density is extremely high. In addition, the lands involved in agricultural use are becoming more depleted and environmentally vulnerable every year. Yields of major food crops are continuously improving through improved tillage, irrigation, fertilization, weed and pest control, and reduced harvest losses. However, it is already clear that significant efforts will be required, both through traditional breeding and modern agricultural biotechnology, to achieve genetic improvement of food plants at a pace that would meet the needs of 8.3 billion people by 2025.

Pros and cons of biotechnology.

Over the past 35 years, biotechnology, using recombinant (made by joining together non-naturally occurring fragments) DNA, has emerged as an invaluable new scientific method for the research and production of agricultural products. This unprecedented penetration into the depths of the genome - to the molecular level - should be considered one of the most important milestones on the path of endless knowledge of nature. Recombinant DNA allows breeders to select and introduce genes into plants “one by one”, which not only sharply reduces research time compared to traditional breeding, eliminating the need to spend it on “unnecessary” genes, but also makes it possible to obtain “useful” genes from the most different types plants. This genetic transformation promises enormous benefits for agricultural producers, particularly by increasing plant resistance to insect pests, diseases and herbicides. Additional benefits are associated with the development of varieties that are more resistant to a lack or excess of moisture in the soil, as well as to heat or cold - the main characteristics of modern forecasts of future climate disasters.
Today, the prospects for agricultural biotechnology to provide plants that can be used as medicines or vaccines are increasingly realistic. We will simply grow such plants and eat their fruits to cure or prevent many diseases. It's hard to imagine what this might mean for poor countries, where conventional pharmaceuticals are still a novelty and traditional WHO vaccination programs prove too expensive and difficult to implement. This area of ​​research must be fully supported, including through the aforementioned cooperation between the public and private sectors of the economy. Of course, poor countries will have to develop sound regulatory mechanisms to most effectively guide the development of production, testing and use of GM products to protect both public health and the environment. In addition, the intellectual property of private companies also needs to be protected to ensure fair recovery of past investments and ensure future growth.
The current heated debate about transgenic crops centers on the safety of GMOs. Concerns about the potential dangers of GMOs are based largely on the belief that the introduction of “foreign” DNA into mainstream food crops is “unnatural” and therefore involves an inherent health risk. But since all living organisms, including food plants, animals, microbes, etc., contain DNA, how can recombinant DNA be considered “unnatural”? Even defining the concept of “foreign gene” is problematic, since many genes are common to a wide variety of organisms. The requirements for GM products are much higher than for varieties obtained through conventional breeding and even breeding in which mutations are caused by irradiation or the use of chemicals. At the same time, society must be clearly aware that there is no “zero biological risk” in nature, the idea of ​​which is just the embodiment of the “precautionary principle”, which is not based on any scientific data.

Consequences of the "green" revolution.

The main goal of the “green” revolution was to increase agricultural production. products. But active human intervention in the life of natural ecosystems has led to a number of negative consequences:

1) soil degradation.

Causes:
-technization, chemicalization, land reclamation

2) pollution of the biosphere with pesticides.

Causes:
- chemicalization

3) disruption of the natural balance of ecosystems.

Causes:
-artificial breeding of plant and animal varieties

Soil degradation is a gradual deterioration of soil properties caused by changes in soil formation conditions as a result of natural causes or human economic activity and is accompanied by a decrease in humus content, destruction of soil structure and a decrease in fertility.

The main resource of the agricultural system - soil - is the surface fertile layer of the earth's crust, created under the combined influence external conditions: heat, water, air, plant and animal organisms, especially microorganisms.

Fertility is the ability of the soil to provide plants with the necessary amount of nutrients, water and air.
Fertility depends on the supply of organic substances - humus, the content of nutrients available to plants, and the availability of moisture. As a result of the use of mineral fertilizers, microorganisms that destroy humus are activated, i.e. Soil fertility is declining.

Pollution of the biosphere with pesticides.
Over the past 50 years, the use of mineral fertilizers has increased 43 times, pesticides 10 times, which has led to the pollution of individual components of the biosphere: soil, water, vegetation. Because of this pollution, the living population of the soil is depleted - the number of soil animals, algae, and microorganisms decreases.

Conclusion.

The Green Revolution has made it possible to achieve success in the war against hunger that humanity is waging. However, scientists emphasize that until the growth rate of the world's population can be slowed down, any achievements of the “green” revolution will be ephemeral. Already today, humanity has technologies (either completely ready for use or in the final stages of development) capable of reliably feeding 30 billion people. Over the past 100 years, scientists have been able to apply their dramatically expanded knowledge of genetics, plant physiology, pathology, entomology and other disciplines to dramatically accelerate the process of combining high plant yields with high tolerance to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses.

Literature.

Arustamov - “Ecological foundations of environmental management.”
M.V. Galperin - “Ecological foundations of environmental management.”