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Agricultural Technology: The Green Revolution

Green Revolution
Figure 1.-- American technology as part of the Green Revolution dramatically uncreased farm yields throughout the Third world. While Communist countries reported harvest problems and even famines. the United Sates powered a massive expansion of food production throughout the Third World. Countries like India reported huge increases in harvests managing to exceed the needs of rising populations. Here we see an Indian farmer in 1972 with his bumper wheat crop. Notice the huge heads. And this is only one example of American Exceptionalism.

One of the most important, but least recognized events of the Cold War was the Green Revolution. Marx predicted that socialism would usher in a new era of prosperity for workers, both the rural peasantry and urban proletariat. In actuality, it was just the opposite, Socialism proved to be a very inefficient economic system, both for farming and industrial production. As inefficient as socialist industry proved to be, socialist farming was far worse. Most of the famines in modern times were the result of totalitarian regimes instituting socialist economizes. Communist regimes (Soviets, Chinese Communists, Ethiopia, Khmer Rouge, North Koreans, and Cubans) caused huge declines in agricultural productivity. Fascist regimes did somewhat better because the did not collectivize, but like the Communists caused terrible famines. capitalism in sharp contrast, especially in America generated an explosion of farm productivity. This began even in the 19th century with mechanization> American inventors created the mechanical reaper and a host of other mechanical innovations. Finally in the late-19th century we begin to see powered machinery which escalated rapidly when the internal combustion engine and inexpensive tractors mean that relatively small operators could participate. Even before World War II, populations in many developing countries began to grow at extremely fast rates. These high rates were in part the results of historical trends. A major factor was also improvements in health care made possible by sanitation and medical health care programs financed by Europe and America. While populations were increasing, farming technology in much of the Third World had remained unchanged for centuries. Economists by the 1950s began to talk about a world-wide Malthusian famine because the rapid population growth would outrun the food supply. Agronomists had been increasing crop yield by using more and more nitrogen fertilizer. This was possible because a Nobel Prize winning German Jewish scientist, Fritz Huber, before World War I had figured out a chemical process for fixing nitrogen. It was one of the most important scientific accomplishment. It made possible vitally important increased food production. It expanded the availability and cost of fertilizer. Farmers by the 1950s, however, had reached limits on the use of nitrogen. They found that seed heads were growing so heavy that stalks would collapse. An American agricultural scientist, Norman Borlaug, began working for the Rockefeller Foundation and began working on a project to help Mexico conquer hunger. Borlaug found a strain of wheat with a stubby stalk that could support a heavy seed head. He then transferred the gene to tropical wheat and produced a strain that could support large seed heads. Bourlaug's work resulted in a wheat strain that could produce yields four times per acre than what was previously possible. This was just the first step in what is now known as the Green Revolution that eliminated famine in much of the Third World. The development of effective pesticides also help raise productivity. A problem here is that some farmers, especially in the Third World us these chemical pesticides irresponsibly. The number of lives he saved are virtually impossible to calculate, but must be in the hundreds of millions, if not billions. About half the world now eats grains descended from Borlaug's work. Bourlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1970), surely one of the individuals most deserving of the award which too often is corrupted by political considerations. .

Early Economic Thinking

Adam Smith (1723-1790) the founder of modern economics was optimistic about the future. He sketched out capitalism and like most Enlightenment thinkers thought conditions would gradually improve. [Smith] In the 19th century Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834), another economist, theologian, and philosopher and the economist David Ricardo were pessimistic. Malthus in particular was convinced that population would increase faster than food production that human society would experience a persistent downward spiral on wages and ultimately constant deadly famines. [Malthus] It was a static view of the world, believing that at best, only small, incremental increases in productivity were possible, unable to keep up with increases in population.

History of Famines

Famine is one of the great killers of human history. Drought, Famine, Plague and Pestilence are the feared natural disasters discussed in the Bible. Plague remains one of the worst calamities that can befall mankind. It is no longer, however, an entirely natural event. Modern society grows more than enough food to feed the entire human population. Modern reporting continues to focus on the natural causes, especially drought. Many make a connection with global warming. Some are so committed to the global warming narrative that they ignore the political and economic dimensions of famine. Famine is as old as history and surely predates history. It is believed that climate change and resulting food shortages drove man to migrate from Africa. Hunter gathers were not as vulnerable to famine because they could move. Settled agricultural societies were less mobile and thus more vulnerable. Thee is a great deal of historical information on famine. We note famines endued by drought and other natural causes. Others are purposeful engineering events as well as due to neglect or indifference. Both political and economic concerns are involved in the engineered famines. Some are genocidal in character.

Totalitarianism

One of the most important, but least recognized events of the Cold War was the Green Revolution. Marx predicted that socialism would usher in a new era of prosperity for workers, both the rural peasantry and urban proletariat. In actuality, it was just the opposite, Socaialism proved to be a very inefficient economic system, both for farming and industrial production. As inefficient as socialist industry proved to be, socialist farming was far worse. Most of the famines in modern times were the result of totalitarian regimes instituting socialist economizes. Communist regimes (Soviets, Chinese Communists, Ethiopia, Khmer Rouge, North Koreans, and Cubans) caused huge declines in agricultural productivity. Fascist regimes did some what better because the did not collectivize, but like the Communists caused terrible famines. capitalism in sharp contrast, especially in America generated an explosion of farm productivity. This began even in the 19th century with mechanization. American inventors created the mechanical reaper and a host of other mechanical innovations. Finally in the late-19th century we begin to see powered machinery which escalated rapidly when the internal combustion engine and inexpensive tractors mean that relatively small operators could participate. Even before World War II, populations in many developing countries began to grow at extremely fast rates. These high rates were in part the results of historical trends. A major factor was also improvements in health care made possible by sanitation and medical health care programs financed by Europe and America. While populations were increasing, farming technology in much of the Third World had remained unchanged for centuries. Economists by the 1950s began to talk about a world-wide Malthusian famine because the rapid population growth would outrun the food supply. Agronomists had been increasing crop yield by using more and more nitrogen fertilizer. This was possible because a Nobel Prize winning German Jewish scientist, Fritz Huber, before World War I had figured out a chemical process for fixing nitrogen. It was one of the most important scientific accomplishment. It made possible vitally important increased food production. It expanded the availability and cost of fertilizer. Farmers by the 1950s, however, had reached limits on the use of nitrogen. They found that seed heads were growing so heavy that stalks would collapse. An American agricultural scientist, Norman Borlaug, began working for the Rockefeller Foundation and began working on a project to help Mexico conquer hunger. Borlaug found a strain of wheat with a stubby stalk that could support a heavy seed head. He then transferred the gene to tropical wheat and produced a strain that could support large seed heads. Bourlaug's work resulted in a wheat strain that could produce yields four times per acre than what was previously possible. This was just the first step in what is now known as the Green Revolution that eliminated famine in much of the Third World. The development of effective pesticides also help raise productivity. A problem here is that some farmers, especially in the Third World us these chemical pesticides irresponsibly. The number of lives he saved are virtually impossible to calculate, but must be in the hundreds of millions, if not billions. About half the world now eats grains descended from Borlaug's work. Bourlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1970), surely one of the individuals most deserving of the award which too often is corrupted by political considerations. One very important aspect of the increases in agricultural productivity is the increasing energy component of the achievement. .

Totalitarian Regimes and Socialist Collectivism

Marx predicted that socialism would usher in a new era of prosperity for workers, both the rural peasantry and urban proletariat. In actuality, it was just the opposite, Socialism proved to be a very inefficient economic system, both for farming and industrial production. As inefficient as socialist industry proved to be, socialist farming was far worse. Most of the famines in modern times were the result of totalitarian regimes instituting socialist economizes. Communist regimes (Soviets, Chinese Communists, Ethiopia, Khmer Rouge, North Koreans, and Cubans) caused huge declines in agricultural productivity. Fascist regimes did some what better because the did not collectivize, but like the Communists caused terrible famines. Some of these famines like Stalin's engineered Ukrainian Famine (1932-33) were actually designed by the governments to kill. Killing civilians was a major NAZI war goal. NAZI officials even designed the Hunger Plan to kill in the millions. The Soviets including Stalin assumed that collectivization would increase productivity. But productivity fell substantially. But the Soviets were not going to allow that to dampen their socialist commitment. Actually that was clear only a few years after the Revolution when Lenin adopted the New Economic Policy (NEP) to save the Soviet state (1923) And if that was not enough proof, the high productivity from the small plots allotted to collective farm workers demonstrated the fact that private ownership was much more efficient than collective farming.

Private Ownership

In sharp contrast to agriculture in totalitarian socialist agriculture, agriculture in countries where the farmers owned their land was enormously productive. America is a case in point. From the beginnings of the American Republic, the United States pursued a policy of family farms with farmers owning their land with laws. like the Northwest Ordnance and Homestead Act. This generated an explosion of farm productivity The results have been astonishing. In 1870 an American farmer could feed 3 people plus his family. By 1950 an American farmer was feeding 75 people. In 2016 this was up to 164 people. And high tech farmers in the 1920s were feeding 300 people. And this is not just in America, Since the implosion of the Soviet Union and collective agriculture (1991). Russian farmers today are enormously productive, as are farmers in Argentina, Brazil, and other countries.

Mechanization

Along with private ownership, increases in agricultural productivity were achieved through mechanization which developed primarily in America. This began in in the early-19th century. American Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical reaper (1830s). Many other mechanical devices for farming followed. This occurred in America because the wages of free labor were increasing faster than in Europe. And would shortly destroy the slave labor system in the southern states. Finally in the late-19th century we begin to see powered machinery which escalated rapidly when the internal combustion engine and inexpensive tractors meant that relatively small operators could participate.

Industrial Revolution

Just as Malthus was born, the Industrial Revolution was beginning in Britain. Machines and steam power massively increased the energy available to mankind and with it productivity. This usually deals with industry. But agricultural productivity was also increased. The steam engine could power farm machinery at first powered by horses. Ultimately the internal combustion engine proved even more practical. Steam powered c ships and trains that significantly reduced transportation costs. This made it possible to transport grains and eventually perishable foods all over the world. Again specialization enabled the low-cost production of food stuffs. Today robotic farming is becoming an important factor in farming. The widespread use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is less than a century old. And even more so the Third World, especially Africa. Based on scientific advances in all areas, the potential for greater yields and healthier is significant if almost unlimited. In the 21st century a threat to scientific progress has emerged. Environmental scientists like Pat Michaels warn that the corruption of science by woke voices have the potential to lead to serious food shortages. [Rahn]

Cold War

One of the most important, but least recognized events of the Cold War was the Green Revolution.

The Third World

Even before World War II, populations in many developing countries began to grow at extremely fast rates. These high rates were in part the results of historical trends. A major factor was also improvements in health care made possible by sanitation and medical health care programs financed by Europe and America. While populations were increasing, farming technology in much of the Third World had remained unchanged for centuries. Given the rapid growth of population, economists by the 1950s began to talk about a world-wide Malthusian famine because the rapid population growth would outrun the food supply. Until after World War II, agriculture in much of the Third World was still very basic using very traditional methods, little changed for centuries--meaning very low yields, totally incapable of producing the food needed to support massive population increases.d

The Green Revolution: Modern High Yield Agriculture

The Green Revolution consisted of three major innovations significantly increasing crop yields in the Third World: 1) chemical fertilizer, 2) improved crops strains, and 3) pesticides. These three developments had one common feature--high energy inputs. One very important aspect of the increases in agricultural productivity is the increasing energy component of the achievement. And maintaining these high crop yields is only possible with very significant high energy inputs, necessitating low-cost energy. High yield agriculture have largely ended the famines that have plagued mankind since the dawn of time. Famines have not entirely disappeared, but are largely the result of corrupt and incompetent government. The Green Revolution has been a major factor in reducing the abject poverty that had characterized the Third World by producing inexpensive food.

Chemical fertilizer

The impact of fertilizer has been known to farmers for century, but this was mostly limited to natural fertilizer, like manure. Modern transport like steam engines madepossible the shipment of natural nitrogen fertilizer like guano and nitrates, primarily to farmers in Europe and North America. Huge increases were possible because a Nobel Prize winning German Jewish scientist, Fritz Haber (1868-1934), before World War I had figured out a chemical process for fixing nitrogen. It was one of the most important scientific accomplishment. It made possible vitally important increased food production. It expanded the availability and cost of fertilizer. This became part of the Green Revolution when fertilizer began to become increasing used after World War II in the Third World,

Genetically modified crop strains

Farmers by the 1950s had reached limits on the use of nitrogen. They found that seed heads were growing so heavy that stalks would collapse. An American agronomist, Norman Borlaug, began working for the Rockefeller Foundation and began working on a project to help Mexico conquer hunger. Farmers had been developing crops for millennia. Modern crops like corn, wheat, barley, rice and others are crops that were created by farmers--but these processes took place over thousands of years. Borlaug using genetically modified seeds (especially disease resistant) that significantly increased food production per acre. He developed strain of wheat with a stubby stalk that could support a heavy seed head. He then transferred the gene to tropical wheat and produced a strain that could support large seed heads. Bourlaug's work resulted in a wheat strain that could produce yields four times per acre than what was previously possible. This was just the first step in what is now known as the Green Revolution that eliminated famine in much of the Third World. The number of lives he saved are virtually impossible to calculate, but must be in the hundreds of millions, if not billions. About half the world now eats grains descended from Borlaug's work. Bourlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1970), surely one of the individuals most deserving of the award which too often is corrupted by political considerations.

Pesticides

The development of effective pesticides also help raise productivity. A problem here is that some farmers, especially in the Third World us these chemical pesticides irresponsibly.

Sources

Malthus, Thomas Robert. An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798).

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations (1776).

Rahn, Richard W. "Will the greens start a new worldwide famine? Look toward Sri Lanka and the Netherlands", The Washington Times (July 19, 2022), p. B3.








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Created: 6:14 AM 3/7/2016
Spell checked: 3:51 AM 12/28/2022
Last updated: 4:13 PM 12/27/2022