Borlaug Recollects on the Green Revolution

Dr. Norman Borlaug narrates his experience in breeding wheat, encountering the rust epidemic, and advancing the green revolution in his paper published in Euphytica. He reviewed what has happened to cereal production between 1960 and 2000 in developing countries, as well as the positive contribution of high yield agriculture to environmental conservation.

Borlaug describes that the high-yielding semi dwarf wheat and rice varieties were just the catalyst for the Green Revolution.  It was the combination of factors, which include the use of fertilizers, weed control, and optimum irrigation schedule that made the difference in productivity. He reiterates that there is no magic in novel, improved crop varieties alone, and also reminds that developing country governments must be prepared to work with and benefit from biotechnology applications.

Borlaug also describes the types of bureaucracies that agricultural scientists and researchers have to deal with in developing nations. He recommends that governments avoid excessively restrictive regulations and that they implement rules and regulations that are reasonable and cost effective, especially when dealing with biotechnology applications.

The abstract, with links to the full article, can be accessed at http://www.springerlink.com/content/d023617827754266/.