THE RECORD
What changed
Mexican wheat and Philippine rice programs spread semi-dwarf crops and intensive farming.
EVIDENCE
What remains
Breeding records, yield data, station archives and farm surveys reveal regional effects.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why it matters
It reduced famine risk and raised food supply while burdening water, soils, biodiversity and farmers.
OPEN QUESTION
Where interpretation begins
The famine-avoidance story can omit distribution and land politics; benefits were unequal.