The Green Revolution of the 1950s was a response to the global issue of hunger and poverty, particularly in developing nations. The Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, concerned that these countries could become targets for communist subversion, invested significant funds into producing high-yield varieties of wheat, rice and corn. These crops were augmented with fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation systems which created a new form of agriculture known as chemical agriculture.
Unfortunately, this revolution had unintended consequences. Small farmers were unable to keep up with credit payments linked to the revolution, leading to them losing their land; water usage skyrocketed leaving large swaths of land desertified; agricultural diversity was destroyed; and production of rice and wheat rose but not necessarily food supply overall – this is why it is important to watch documentaries like ‘The Human Cost Of Industrial Agriculture’.
In 1999, 60% of Canada’s canola crop was genetically engineered along with 90% of Argentina’s soybean crop and 50% of the US’ soybean crop. The use of these chemicals has caused soil erosion, compaction, salinisation, water logging and a destruction of beneficial biodiversity – all happening at an alarming rate.
But there are solutions! By watching documentaries such as ‘The Human Cost Of Industrial Agriculture’ we can gain insight into how industrial agriculture affects us all globally. We need to understand what this means for our future production capabilities as well as practical solutions on how we can reduce our environmental impacts. It is only through understanding our current situation that we will be able to create a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.
