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56 minutes/Grades 9-Adult
A film by Judith Bourque and Peter Gunnarson
Twenty years ago "seeds of hope" were planted in the Third
World, the seeds of the Green Revolution. With the help of
improved wheat, corn and rice varieties, enough food could finally
be produced to feed the starving masses. Hopes were so high for
these new varieties that Norman Borlaug received a Nobel Peace
Prize for the "miracle seeds" that he had developed.
What became of the miracle seeds? The yields did indeed
increase, but only for those who could afford the irrigation and
agricultural chemicals that the improved varieties required.
Exporting modern agricultural methods has been good business for
multinational chemical companies, but economic dependence, the
erosion of genetic diversity in food crops, and environmental
poisoning are the prices the farmer has to pay.
Now we are confronted with biotechnology, the "Gene Revolu-
tion." Does this development bring new hope or false promises?
Amongst those interviewed in the film are farmers and
agricultural experts from many developing countries including Sri
Lanka, India, the Philippines and Indonesia as well as Pat Roy
Mooney, Cary Fowler,and Jose Lutzenberger, once Brazil's Minister
of the Environment.
Awards: Gold Dukat, Mannhein International Film Festival; Special
Merit Award, EarthPeace International Film Festival
- "Dramatic and beautiful... Recommended for any collection with
strong emphasis in ecological and agricultural issues." ****
Video Rating Guide for Libraries
- "This thought-provoking critique of the Green Revolution...
(implies) that the genetic revolution will fail just as the Green
one has... Draw(s) several conclusions, which include the need to
emphasize regenerative agriculture, to use soft technologies
rather than rely on high tech, and emphasize biological
diversity." Choice
Subject Areas: INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, ECONOMICS, AGRICULTURE,
GENETICS, ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT, GREEN REVOLUTION,
BIOTECHNOLOGY
ISBN: 1-56029-072-2

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