Blue Revolution Through the Lens of the Green Revolution

technology and Extractivism in the Anthropocene

Abstract

The Green Revolution and the Blue Revolution emerged in the second half of the 20th century as hegemonic strategies to solve the hunger problem in the world with neo-Malthusian and anti-communist perspectives. The Green Revolution promoted the use of fertilizers, mechanization and high-yield varieties to increase agricultural production. The Blue Revolution refers to the expansion of world aquaculture. We propose to extend this concept to overfishing caused by an increase in the technification and global demand of seafood. This article compares the founding narratives, the technological matrix, the extractive nature and the impacts of both revolutions within the so-called Anthropocene, as well as their critical counterparts Capitalocene and Necrocene, in the process known as the Great Acceleration. The research is based on specialized sources and documents from international organizations on agriculture and fisheries.