Chapter
The Soviet Union's Crop Experiment that Almost Worked
16:08 - 18:26 (02:17)
Soviet agronomist Leshenko aimed to grow spring wheat in winter by soaking seeds in cold water, getting them ready for cold weather, and grow them like spring wheat. He believed it would turn the Caucasus Mountains green in the winter and feed the Soviet people through the coldest months of the year.
Clips
The Soviet scientist Trofim Leshenko believed that he could feed the Soviet people in the coldest months of the year by breeding cold-resistant peas and creating a new kind of winter wheat using a process called vernalization.
16:08 - 17:15 (01:07)
Summary
The Soviet scientist Trofim Leshenko believed that he could feed the Soviet people in the coldest months of the year by breeding cold-resistant peas and creating a new kind of winter wheat using a process called vernalization.
ChapterThe Soviet Union's Crop Experiment that Almost Worked
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
This podcast discusses how a farmer from the 1920s experimented with preparing his crops for the cold weather and got lucky with the weather that year, resulting in a successful harvest.
17:15 - 17:37 (00:21)
Summary
This podcast discusses how a farmer from the 1920s experimented with preparing his crops for the cold weather and got lucky with the weather that year, resulting in a successful harvest.
ChapterThe Soviet Union's Crop Experiment that Almost Worked
EpisodePart One: The Russian Scientist Who Helped Kill 30 Million People
PodcastBehind the Bastards
Trofim Lysenko was a Soviet scientist who lied and falsified his data to claim that his unconventional methods were the reason for better harvests.
17:37 - 18:26 (00:48)
Summary
Trofim Lysenko was a Soviet scientist who lied and falsified his data to claim that his unconventional methods were the reason for better harvests. He convinced a reporter to cover his work, resulting in a widely-read article that made him a folk hero in the USSR.