This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English AgricultureReport.
This week, we take a suggestion from a listener in Brazil.Agricultural specialist Luiz Augusto Verona in Chapeco would like tohear about agroecology. He says it is a subject that these days”everybody talks about.”
The word agroecology is generally used to describe farmingmethods that can be carried out in a way that does not damage theenvironment. Sustainable development is another term often used inconnection with agroecology. Sustainable development methods aredesigned to save resources.
Interest in agroecology has increased in recent years. Now, manyuniversities offer studies in this area. The University ofCalifornia at Santa Cruz and Pennsylvania State University are justtwo of the schools that offer agroecology programs. Manyagricultural programs are also linking studies in animal biology,soil science and other studies.
In many ways agroecology is an answer to the technologicalmovement to increase production of some crops. This movement whichdeveloped in the nineteen-sixties and seventies became known as theGreen Revolution. Scientists developed ways to make highlyproductive forms of wheat, corn and rice.
Norman Borlaug helped bring aboutthe Green Revolution. Mister Borlaug was an agricultural researcherfor the DuPont Company. Later, he went to Mexico where he worked atthe International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. He became thedirector. He also helped create new kinds of highly productivewheat. Mister Borlaug won the Nobel Peace Prize in nineteen-seventyfor his efforts to develop more productive crops and to trainscientists. He remains active in this work today.
The Green Revolution produced huge increases in crop size inIndia, Mexico, Pakistan and the Philippines. It has also placedimportance on the use of chemical fertilizers and insect poisons,and on the need for new crops. Today’s genetically changed crops arethe next step.
Agroecology seeks to use scientific knowledge of the environmentto make good choices about growing crops. Many experts say it is notcompeting with the goals of the Green Revolution. They say both havea single goal: to feed the world’s people.
Listen next week as we tell more about agroecology.
This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by MarioRitter. This is Steve Ember.