Green Revolution, Future Prospects for

The term Green Revolution was coined in 1968 by William S. Gaud, director of the U.S. Agency for International Development, to refer to the dramatic increase in food production due to the introduction of new wheat and rice varieties in India, Pakistan, and other South Asian developing countries since the 1960s. The pioneer and main leader of the Green Revolution was the American agronomist Norman E. Borlaug, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his contribution to reduce hunger and starvation in the world. This entry briefly describes the historical context and the main achievements of the Green Revolution and discusses the current proposal for an eventual second Green Revolution to secure food for the 9 billion people estimated to populate the Earth ...