"The green revolution has won a temporary success in man’s war against hunger and deprivation; it has given man a breathing space. If fully implemented, the revolution can provide sufficient food for sustenance during the next three decades. But the frightening power of human reproduction must also be curbed; otherwise the success of the green revolution will be ephemeral only."
Most countries on Earth have declining birth rates, many first world countries have negative population growth.
Overpopulation isn't a thing.
gefriertrockner•16m ago
Overpopulation is a thing in parts of South Asia and Africa.
Climate change can affect the agricultural output in many countries and thus the land will support less people. The population growth is still very relevant in most of the affected countries. So overpopulation will definitely be a thing, unless there are real technological breakthroughs.
pseudo0•1h ago
A bit ironic to quote that considering how the speech was 55 years ago, and the green revolution is going stronger than ever. If anything the crisis of the next 50 years will be the economic and societal pressures crushing the childbirth rate in Western countries.
decimalenough•1h ago
His lecture was in 1970 and the "three decades" elapsed 25 years ago. People are still starving, but not for lack of agricultural production.
dinkblam•1h ago
> Australia has among the lowest agricultural subsidies
other countries would be wise to adopt that, but there is zero chance of that happening.
skywal_l•1h ago
Norman Borlaug
Nobel Prize lecture [0]
[0] https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1970/borlaug/lecture...
XorNot•1h ago
Overpopulation isn't a thing.
gefriertrockner•16m ago
pseudo0•1h ago
decimalenough•1h ago