Which of the following is a commonly cited social/environmental criticism of the Green Revolution?

Which of the following is a commonly cited social/environmental criticism of the Green Revolution?

• A. Increased yields
• B. Environmental damage from chemical inputs
• C. Short-term gains with no long-term impacts
• D. Improved biodiversity

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that the Green Revolution boosted production by using high-yield varieties alongside heavy chemical inputs. A commonly cited social and environmental criticism is the environmental damage caused by those chemical inputs—runoff that pollutes water, soil degradation and nutrient imbalances, emergence of pest and weed resistance, and a decline in biodiversity due to monocultures. This critique emphasizes sustainability and the uneven burdens on farmers and ecosystems, even as yields rose. While higher yields are a documented outcome, the other options describe positive results or less typical critiques; biodiversity often declined rather than improved, and claims of purely short-term gains overlook the longer-term environmental costs.

The key idea is that the Green Revolution boosted production by using high-yield varieties alongside heavy chemical inputs. A commonly cited social and environmental criticism is the environmental damage caused by those chemical inputs—runoff that pollutes water, soil degradation and nutrient imbalances, emergence of pest and weed resistance, and a decline in biodiversity due to monocultures. This critique emphasizes sustainability and the uneven burdens on farmers and ecosystems, even as yields rose. While higher yields are a documented outcome, the other options describe positive results or less typical critiques; biodiversity often declined rather than improved, and claims of purely short-term gains overlook the longer-term environmental costs.