R. Douglas Hurt Book order

The Green Revolution aimed to boost agricultural production globally, especially in developing countries, using techniques like anhydrous ammonia, hybridized seeds, and various chemicals to increase yields and combat potential starvation. R. Douglas Hurt reveals that the outcomes were far from the anticipated success. When these methods were introduced in regions such as Indonesia and Nigeria, they significantly disrupted societal functions. Various factors—including cultural practices, ethnic and religious divides, technology accessibility, climate conditions, soil quality, landholding sizes, political dynamics, and corruption—contributed to a range of unintended consequences that differed by location. Over time, these effects permeated societies, influencing environments, economies, and political structures, as well as impacting countless lives. Hurt's analysis, spanning nearly a century, illustrates that the Green Revolution was propelled by both state interests and scientific endeavors. Instead of addressing the myriad issues that arose or considering alternative approaches, scientists and political leaders continued to repeat the same errors in the name of food security. Hurt meticulously documents how the Green Revolution, beyond merely increasing agricultural yields, reshaped social orders, political landscapes, and lifestyles wherever its methods were applied.