Food Security Won, Nutrition Lost: The Hidden Costs Of Green Revolution

According to C.K. Timbadia of the Gujarat Natural Agriculture Science University, Halol, agricultural scientists, indeed, succeeded in making India self-reliant in food production after the 1960s, through decades of research and development.

However, the reduction in nutrients across major crop varieties has become a matter of concern, serving as a warning signal for policymakers. In the race for higher yields, farmers failed to preserve sustainability, nutritional value, and quality.

A team of 12 agricultural scientists and ICAR researchers studied nutrient variations, particularly in rice and wheat — the most widely consumed staples. The findings, published in the international journal Nature Scientific Reports, are startling.

Assistant Research Scientist Alpesh Bhimani explained that in the process of developing high-yielding varieties, changes were made in the biological structure of plants, which unintentionally hindered their natural ability to transport essential minerals from soil to grain.

The analysis of 16 rice and 18 wheat varieties highlights the gravity of the issue.

Along with a severe reduction in zinc, iron, and calcium, there has been a rise in toxic elements such as arsenic and aluminium. These elements are linked to lung cancer, asthma, heart disease, and bone weakening, making the situation a serious public health warning.

Detrimental Effects

Dr. Bhimani further warned that the consumption of nutritious grains like jowar, bajra, and millets has significantly reduced in recent years. According to ICMR, non-communicable diseases in India have increased by 25% during this period.

Globally, two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiency, one-third of whom are Indians.

The National Family Health Survey reveals that 35% of children under five years do not receive adequate nutrition. If the Central and State governments do not reform the agricultural policy to restore minerals in rice and wheat varieties, millions of Indians will continue to face severe nutrition-related health consequences.

Nutrition Shock For India’s Staples:

• In rice, calcium content has decreased by 45%, zinc by 33%, and iron by 30%.
• In wheat, calcium content has decreased by 30%, zinc by 27%, and iron by 19%.
• Silicon content has declined by 42% in rice and 45% in wheat.
• In rice, arsenic levels have increased by 1493% and aluminum by 78%, while in wheat, aluminum levels have increased by 78%.
• The Green Revolution strengthened food security in India, but resulted in the loss of nutritional security.
• There is a lack of scientific approach and nutritional awareness among farmers.
• Rice and wheat varieties have lost nearly 45% of their nutritional value over the past five decades. 

Impact on the Indian Economy

Rising healthcare burden: As staple grains lose essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and calcium, malnutrition, anaemia, and lifestyle disorders increase.

What this means:

• Higher government spending on public health programmes
• Greater pressure on hospitals and insurance systems
• Reduced quality of life for millions

Poor nutrition leads to:

• Lower physical stamina
• Reduced cognitive performance
• Fatigue and slow learning in children
• This directly reduces labour productivity, affecting industries from agriculture to manufacturing, and ultimately slowing down GDP growth.

India’s demographic dividend relies on a healthy, skilled young population.

Nutrient-poor food weakens:

• Child growth (stunting and wasting)
• Learning outcomes
• Future earning potential
• This erodes the future talent and economic competitiveness of the country.

Declining grain quality can:

• Reduce export competitiveness
• Trigger quality-based rejections in global markets
• Make India less competitive against countries with higher-nutrient grain varieties

India achieved food security, but at the cost of nutrition security. The economic consequences are long-term — affecting health, productivity, growth, exports, and fiscal stability. It is time to act decisively, pragmatically.