Text extracted from
The World Food Problem
Leathers and Foster, 2004 http://www.lastfirst.net/images/product/R004548.jpg

• 2,807 calories of food/day available per person
• Average requirement is 2,350 calories of food/day/person
– Thus net surplus is 457 calories/day/person
• Could increase surplus
– 480 calories/day/person
• By eliminating waste
– 634 calories/day/person
• By eliminating meat http://www.stonyfield.com/WebLogarchives/CreatingHealthyKids/pyramid.gif

• Claim:
– If U.S. reduced meat consumption by 10%
• it would free up 12 million tons of grain a year.
• enough to feed 60 million starving people
• Assumptions:
– World food supply is fixed
• If less is taken by some, it can be used by others
– The increase in available grain could be allocated to the world’s hungry http://www.gladrags.com/blog/wpcontent/uploads/2007/11/diet-for-a-small-planet.jpg

• 102 Calories/day/person reduction in U.S.
– Partially offset by increased meat and grain consumption elsewhere
– Price of grain driven down
– Increase in grain available offset by 60% reduced production
– Results in increase of 4 calories/person/day in developing world
• If everyone in developing world gave up meat:
– would result in 120-180 calories/person/day
– Need 200 calories/day/person http://brendoman.com/gallery/d/74-2/02ruthwithmeat.jpg

• Redistribution policies would require
–
Reduction of overconsumption in developed countries
– Production maintained at current levels
– Under-consumption must be reversed in developing countries
• Targeted to those who are undernourished http://www.sptimes.com/2002/11/24/photos/taste-overeating.jpg

Carl’s Jr. 1 lb burger:
1420 Calories http://www.sgtstryker.com/weblog/archives/004476.php
• Impractical
– Would require huge taxes on food
• Currently
– U.S. consumes 3750
Calories/day/person
– Income $32,350
• 1968
– U.S. consumed 3000
Calories/day/person
– Adjusted income was $17,266
• To return to 3000 Calories
– Would require an income surtax of about 45% plus a 4% food tax

• How can productivity be kept unchanged
– If developed countries lower consumption?
• Government purchase of food required
– By developed countries
• For U.S. to purchase
20% of its farm output
– Would cost $50 billion http://www.kestan.com/travel/dc/monument/images/IMG_1383%20US%20C apitol%20&%20reflecting%20pool%20(+).jpg

Subsistence farming, Tanzania
• Current U.S. foreign aid about $11 billion
– Less than half goes to lowincome countries
• Getting food to undernourished a problem
– Especially in a marketoriented system
• Alternatives not very effective:
– Central control of production and consumption
– Subsistence agriculture http://www.untotheleast.com/blog/uploaded_images/013006_%20b783-760459.jpg

http://www.joe.org/joe/2003february/figures/tt5-fig1.gif
• Should not conclude that
– Halting growth of food production will protect natural resources
– Technology to increase food production is unnecessary
• Disagrees with Food First
• Need new technologies to
– Increase food productivity
– Protect environment
• Integrated Pest Management
• Low impact tillage
• Drip irrigation
• Need redistribution of food
– Improves nutrition of undernourished
– Requires political will