This is a terrible paradox. I think most people will agree that agricultural research and technological improvements are crucial in increasing productivity and boosting income from agricultural activities. Agricultural research offers the prospect of large payoffs in terms of increased food production and income. The real challenge is to identify what kind of research is needed and to determine how limited public resources may be used in the best possible way. Exploring opportunities for public-private partnerships in this field is another important challenge.
Views differ as to how successful the Green Revolution actually was.
The original Green Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s was based on the assumption that food supply constraints were an overriding cause of food insecurity in developing countries. It became clear, however, that applying the Green Revolution strategy would not be enough to address persistent food insecurity in poor rural areas. Yes - the Green Revolution contributed to huge and, by all means, important yield increases. I am glad to see that agricultural research related to food security and farming systems has undergone considerable change in recent years. I firmly believe that agricultural research, both today and probably even more so in the future, will contribute towards poverty reduction by developing crop varieties important for poor people and adapted to local conditions.