Assessing the Impact of the Green Revolution, 1960 to 2000

TLDR

The study shows that international agricultural research centers and national programs introduced modern crop varieties between 1960 and 2000, leading to substantial increases in crop production. Productivity gains were uneven across crops and regions; while consumers benefited from lower food prices, farmers only gained where cost reductions outweighed price reductions.

Abstract

We summarize the findings of a recently completed study of the productivity impacts of international crop genetic improvement research in developing countries. Over the period 1960 to 2000, international agricultural research centers, in collaboration with national research programs, contributed to the development of "modern varieties" for many crops. These varieties have contributed to large increases in crop production. Productivity gains, however, have been uneven across crops and regions. Consumers generally benefited from declines in food prices. Farmers benefited only where cost reductions exceeded price reductions.