Are the Lessons from the Green Revolution Relevant for Agricultural Growth and Food Security in the Twenty-First Century?
Abstract
The Green Revolution had profound positive impacts on human welfare and economic development across the developing world. However, its global reach was limited by agroclimatic, infrastructural, social, and political constraints. Regional disparities in poverty reduction, intra-societal inequities, and gender differences in the distribution of benefits persist even in countries that witnessed positive Green Revolution outcomes. This essay synthesizes the lessons learned and the policy redirections needed for a ‘redux’ version of the Green Revolution that enhances food and nutrition security and economic development while minimizing social, environmental, and health tradeoffs.