UN challenges the 'Green Revolution' approach

Borrowed from the Febuary 12, 2009 Land and People post. Give this a look.

The UN agencies have finally admitted that the traditional agricultural knowledge and practices were sustainable as well as environment and farmers friendly. According to the below mentioned UN report, often argued need to follow the agro-industrial “Green Revolution” model using crops that require chemical fertilizer, pesticides and irrigation for increased yields have actually damaged the environment, caused dramatic loss of agrobiodiversity and associated traditional knowledge, favored wealthier farmers and left some poorer ones deeper in debt.

Please find below a link to a new policy brief by UNCTAD which is quite vocal against the “Green revolution” rhetoric and advocates in favor of organic agriculture. It is also attached for your assistance:

Policy Brief No. 6 - "Sustaining African Agriculture - Organic Production"

http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/presspb20086_en.pdf