The Nature of the World Food and Population Problem

The problem of hunger and malnutrition has long plagued the human race with recurring famines during periods of political upheaval and food shortages induced by natural disasters. The World Food Conference dealt with the fundamentals of a multidimensional world food policy and produced a fair degree of agreement on its major elements. A new International Fund for Agricultural Development, as recommended by the World Food Conference, has begun operations. The recommendation of the World Food Council that this Emergency Reserve should be annually replenished has received general endorsement. A number of specialists believe it is possible to solve this dilemma between the needs of increasing food production and those of its wider and equitable distribution by pursuing a balanced development strategy. The consequences of malnutrition in terms of poor health, low productivity, and general debasement of human dignity are incalculable. The largest international grain market is in wheat, but rice is the staple food for about half the world&s;s people.