The Green Revolution: High-Yield Wheat, Hybrid Rice & Agricultural Mechanization
Encyclopedia/2. Technology & The Built World/6. Agriculture, Food & Environmental Technology/01. Agricultural Technology • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
The Green Revolution transformed global agriculture through high-yield crop varieties, mechanization, and advanced irrigation, enabling unprecedented food production growth from the 19th century to the present.
Chronological Storyline (43 Milestones)
1801 CE
First Cast Iron Plow Patented
Charles Newbold patents the first cast iron plow in the United States, improving soil penetration over wooden plows. #agriculture #technology
First Cast Iron Plow Patented By USDAgov - 260626-P-OC007-1830, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=194615422
1834 CE
McCormick Reaper Patented
Cyrus McCormick patents the mechanical reaper, enabling faster harvesting of grains and reducing labor needs. #agriculture #mechanization
McCormick Reaper Patented By Cyrus_McCormick_engraving.jpg: George Smillie[1] derivative work: — raeky (talk | edits) - Cyrus_McCormick_engraving.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10626600
1840 CE
Commercial Fertilizer Production Begins
John Bennet Lawes patents superphosphate fertilizer in England, starting the synthetic fertilizer industry. #agriculture #chemistry
Commercial Fertilizer Production Begins By Unknown author - [1], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33168709
1856 CE
Self-Propelled Steam Plow Developed
John Fowler introduces a self-propelled steam plow, revolutionizing tillage with steam power. #agriculture #mechanization )
Self-Propelled Steam Plow Developed By Unknown author - Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=153718367
1874 CE
Glidden Barbed Wire Patented
Joseph Glidden patents barbed wire, enabling efficient fencing for livestock and crop protection in the American West. #agriculture #technology
Glidden Barbed Wire Patented By Unknown author - Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of the Representative Men of the United States: Illinois Volume, 1896, pages 304–305, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113238881
1892 CE
First Gasoline Tractor Built
John Froelich builds the first gasoline-powered tractor, paving the way for modern farm machinery. #agriculture #mechanization
First Gasoline Tractor Built By Unknown author - Image Internet, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66269603
1906 CE
Haber-Bosch Process Developed
Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch develop a method to synthesize ammonia from nitrogen, enabling mass production of nitrogen fertilizers. #agriculture #chemistry
Haber-Bosch Process Developed By The Nobel Foundation - http://nobelprize.org/chemistry/laureates/1918/index.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=365964
1917 CE
Fordson Tractor Mass Produced
Henry Ford begins mass production of the Fordson tractor, making tractors affordable for small farms. #agriculture #mechanization
Fordson Tractor Mass Produced By Michal Maňas - Self-photographed, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1550410
1926 CE
Hybrid Corn Developed
Henry A. Wallace develops the first commercial hybrid corn, dramatically increasing yields through heterosis. #agriculture #biotechnology
1931 CE
First Combine Harvester Produced
The first self-propelled combine harvester is introduced by the Holt Manufacturing Company, combining reaping and threshing. #agriculture #mechanization
First Combine Harvester Produced By Wikideas1 - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=138386662
1943 CE
Green Revolution Initiated by Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation launches a program to improve wheat production in Mexico, leading to the Green Revolution. #agriculture #development
Green Revolution Initiated by Rockefeller Foundation By Hannah Ritchie - https://ourworldindata.org/yields-vs-land-use-how-has-the-world-produced-enough-food-for-a-growing-population, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=188970790
1944 CE
Norman Borlaug Begins Wheat Research in Mexico
Norman Borlaug starts wheat breeding at the Mexican Agricultural Program, developing semi-dwarf, disease-resistant varieties. #agriculture #greenrevolution
Norman Borlaug Begins Wheat Research in Mexico By Ben Zinner, USAID - http://www.usaid.gov/; source; exact image URL, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75331192
1950 CE
CIMMYT Established
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is founded in Mexico to continue wheat and maize research. #agriculture #research
CIMMYT Established By Alfonso Carlos Cortes Arredondo - https://www.flickr.com/photos/cimmyt/50020060216/in/dateposted/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92856216
1954 CE
Semi-Dwarf Wheat Released in Mexico
Borlaug's high-yield semi-dwarf wheat varieties are released, leading to a doubling of Mexican wheat yields by the 1960s. #agriculture #greenrevolution
1960 CE
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Founded
IRRI is established in the Philippines to develop high-yielding rice varieties for Asia. #agriculture #research
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Founded By Abrahamdsl - Regular work day, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=179102722
1962 CE
Silent Spring Published
Rachel Carson's book raises awareness about pesticide dangers, sparking the environmental movement and sustainable agriculture. #agriculture #environment
1963 CE
IR8 Rice Variety Developed
IRRI releases IR8, a high-yielding semi-dwarf rice variety, leading to the Green Revolution in Asia. #agriculture #greenrevolution
1965 CE
India Adopts High-Yielding Wheat Varieties
India imports 18,000 tonnes of Mexican semi-dwarf wheat seeds, launching its Green Revolution and achieving food self-sufficiency by the 1970s. #agriculture #greenrevolution
India Adopts High-Yielding Wheat Varieties By Sanyam Bahga - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17486957
1966 CE
Norman Borlaug Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
Borlaug receives the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Green Revolution, saving over a billion people from starvation. #agriculture #nobel
1969 CE
Drip Irrigation Patented in Israel
Netafim patents drip irrigation, delivering water directly to plant roots and saving up to 70% water. #agriculture #irrigation
Drip Irrigation Patented in Israel By Borisshin - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47378702
1970 CE
Green Revolution Spreads to Africa
The Green Revolution begins in Africa with initiatives like the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, but faces challenges due to diverse climates. #agriculture #africa
1973 CE
Yuan Longping Develops Hybrid Rice
Chinese scientist Yuan Longping produces the world's first high-yielding hybrid rice variety, boosting rice yields by 20-30%. #agriculture #greenrevolution
Yuan Longping Develops Hybrid Rice By China News Service - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsY6qWxCtV4 – View/save archived versions on archive.org 0:35, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=105654860
1980 CE
Precision Agriculture Concept Emerges
The concept of precision agriculture uses GPS and sensor data to optimize field-level management. #agriculture #technology
Precision Agriculture Concept Emerges By Susan Moran, Landsat 7 Science Team and USDA Agricultural Research Service (U.S. Government work) - earthobservatory.nasa.gov (NASA Earth Observatory, Image of the Day 2001-01-30 "Precision Farming"), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10747279
1984 CE
FAO Report on Sustainable Agriculture
The Food and Agriculture Organization publishes a report promoting sustainable agriculture practices. #agriculture #sustainability
FAO Report on Sustainable Agriculture By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region - Flickr: Coffee farm in Colombia, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22749528
1986 CE
First Genetically Modified Plant Created
Scientists produce the first transgenic plant (tobacco) resistant to antibiotics, paving the way for GM crops. #agriculture #biotechnology
First Genetically Modified Plant Created By Ciencias Españolas KoS - File:ADN_2.png File:Pince_a_épiler.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75624775
1992 CE
Conservation Agriculture Promoted
FAO begins promoting conservation agriculture with minimal soil disturbance and cover crops. #agriculture #sustainability
1994 CE
First Commercial Genetically Modified Crop
Flavr Savr tomato is approved for sale in the US, the first genetically modified food crop. #agriculture #biotechnology
1996 CE
Bt Cotton Introduced
Genetically modified Bt cotton is introduced, reducing pesticide use and increasing yields. #agriculture #biotechnology
Bt Cotton Introduced By The original uploader was Ellmist at English Wikipedia. Later versions were uploaded by Minesweeper at en.wikipedia. - This image was released by the Agricultural Research Service, the research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, with the ID k4695-1 (next)., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1876662
2000 CE
Rice Genome Sequenced
The International Rice Genome Sequencing Project completes the rice genome sequence, aiding breeding. #agriculture #genomics
2003 CE
Golden Rice Developed
Golden Rice, genetically modified to produce beta-carotene, is developed to combat vitamin A deficiency. #agriculture #biotechnology
Golden Rice Developed By International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/ricephotos/5516789000/in/set-72157626241604366, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14908001
2005 CE
Precision Irrigation with Sensors
Advanced sensor-based irrigation systems become commercially available, optimizing water use in real-time. #agriculture #technology
2007 CE
Vertical Farming Concept Popularized
Dickson Despommier promotes vertical farming in urban areas for year-round crop production. #agriculture #urbanfarming
Vertical Farming Concept Popularized By Valcenteu - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9387472
2010 CE
First Commercial Vertical Farm Opens
The first commercial vertical farm, 'The Plant' in Chicago, begins operations using hydroponic systems. #agriculture #urbanfarming
2013 CE
CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing in Crops
CRISPR technology is applied to crop breeding, enabling precise genome editing for traits like disease resistance. #agriculture #biotechnology
CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing in Crops By Deposition authors: Nishimasu, H., Ishitani, R., Nureki, O.; Visualization author: Synpath - Atom coordinates: https://www.rcsb.org/structure/4OO8; Visualization: Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133423568
2015 CE
UN Sustainable Development Goals Include Food Security
The UN SDGs target ending hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030. #agriculture #sustainability
UN Sustainable Development Goals Include Food Security By United Nations - Extracted from PDF infographic from un.org, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=115236184
2016 CE
Agri-Tech Startups Surge in Africa
Mobile apps and digital platforms emerge to help smallholder farmers access information and markets. #agriculture #africa #technology
2018 CE
FAO Reports on Climate-Smart Agriculture
The FAO emphasizes climate-smart agriculture to adapt to climate change and reduce emissions. #agriculture #climate
FAO Reports on Climate-Smart Agriculture By IIRR-Myanmar Office - https://iirr.org/our-work/southeast-asia/, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89611098
2019 CE
Indoor Vertical Farm 'AeroFarms' Opens Largest Facility
AeroFarms opens a 70,000-square-foot indoor vertical farm in New Jersey, using aeroponics. #agriculture #urbanfarming
2020 CE
COVID-19 Disrupts Global Food Supply Chains
The pandemic highlights vulnerabilities in food systems, accelerating interest in local and resilient agriculture. #agriculture #supplychain
COVID-19 Disrupts Global Food Supply Chains By Alexey Solodovnikov (Idea, Producer, CG, Editor), Valeria Arkhipova (Scientific Сonsultant) - Own work. Scientific consultants: Nikitin N.A., Doctor of Biological Sciences, Department of Virology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University. Borisevich S.S. Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Specialist in Molecular Modeling of Viral Surface Proteins, Senior Researcher, Head of the "Quantum & Dynamics»,Laboratory of Chemical Physics, Ufa Institute of Chemistry RAS Arkhipova V.I., specialization in Fundamental and Applied chemistry, senior engineer, RNA Chemistry Laboratory, Institute of chemical biology and fundamental medicine SB RAS, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=104914011
2021 CE
Lab-Grown Meat Approved for Sale in Singapore
Singapore becomes the first country to approve cell-cultured chicken meat, marking a milestone in alternative protein production. #agriculture #biotechnology
Lab-Grown Meat Approved for Sale in Singapore By Mosa Meat - https://show.pics.io/cultivated-meat-image-library/preview/6470d7b7bf3739a4ef20c306, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=156680466
2022 CE
Global Fertilizer Crisis Due to War
The Russia-Ukraine war disrupts fertilizer supplies, leading to price spikes and food security concerns worldwide. #agriculture #foodsecurity
2023 CE
AI and Robotics in Agriculture Expand
AI-powered robots for weeding, harvesting, and monitoring become commercially viable, reducing labor needs. #agriculture #technology #ai
2024 CE
Global Soil Health Initiative Launched
The UN launches a Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, emphasizing soil health as critical for sustainable agriculture. #agriculture #environment
