Lessons of the Green Revolution could aid our climate transition

India needs a similar supply boost, this time of green power, to break today's constraints of energy and balance-of-paymen

- NIRANJAN RAJADHYAKSHA

Few individuals have a truly profound impact on their times. M.S. Swaminathan was a member of that small club. Soon after he died on 28 September, the former principal scientific advisor to the Indian government, K. VijayRaghavan, wrote on X, the social media platform that was formerly known as Twitter: "There are many scientists whose life spans roles as researchers, institution-builders, technocrats, policy-makers, and humanists. Swaminathan is unique in doing all these roles superbly and with elan."

The broad story of the Green Revolution is well known in India. Swaminathan played a central role in the transition of our country from begging bowl to bread basket. India would have faced unimaginable pressure in the 1970s but for the success of the Green Revolution. The subsequent economic acceleration would also have been difficult to pull off.

This column explores the possible lessons from the Green Revolution that are relevant for another big challenge, and one that is coincidentally of the same hue the green transition. The spectre of unchecked climate change is as threatening today as that of mass starvation was six decades ago.

AUS government report in 1967 had put it bluntly: "The scale, severity and duration of the world food problem are so great that a massive long-range innovative effort unprecedented in human history will be required to master it." Much the same can be said about climate change today. Governments, companies, financial systems and consumers will all have a role to play in dealing with it. Are there any lessons from the Green Revolution?