Green Revolution 5.2 APHG

Green Revolution

A set of research and technology transfer initiatives occurring between 1950 and the late 1960s, aimed at increasing agricultural production worldwide.

High-yield seeds

Varieties of plants designed to produce the most desirable and highest yield per plant, particularly for staple crops.

Hybrid seeds

Seeds that are cross-bred to obtain desirable traits but are terminal, meaning new seeds must be purchased each planting season.

Chemical fertilizers

Synthetic substances that provide necessary nutrients for plant growth, typically containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Organic farming

A farming method that avoids synthetic chemicals, using naturally occurring decaying organic matter and natural pest deterrents.

Mass-production

The manufacturing of large quantities of standardized products, often utilizing machinery and assembly line techniques.

Subsidy

A payment made directly to farmers from the government to help offset production costs or compensate for limiting their yield.

Quotas

Limits set on the amounts of crops that farmers can produce, aimed at stabilizing agricultural supply and prices.

Dust Bowl

A series of severe dust storms in the 1930s caused by drought and poor farming practices, affecting the Great Plains.

Hatch Act (1887)

Legislation that established agricultural experiment stations in connection with Land Grant Universities to assist farmers.

USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)

A government agency created to provide education, resources, and support for agricultural practices and rural development.

Dust storms

Severe weather events characterized by strong winds lifting and carrying dust particles, significantly impacting agriculture.

Cooperatives

Organizations formed by farmers pooling resources to achieve economic benefits similar to those enjoyed by larger commercial farms.

Vertical integration

A strategy where the same corporation owns multiple steps in the commodity production process, enhancing control and efficiency.

Fallow land

Land that is plowed but not seeded for one or more growing seasons to restore its fertility.

Monocropping

The agricultural practice of growing a single crop species over a wide area for multiple consecutive seasons.

Super pests

Pests that evolve resistance to conventional pesticides, making them difficult to manage and leading to potential crop failures.