The World Food Situation And Prospects To 1985

Abstract: Analysis of the past 2 decades of food production, consumption and trade provides the basis for determining the needs and potential of the next decade. World agriculture has changed dramatically ; up to 1972, costs were low and production high in producing countries. In the past year, world production declined, and soon after the developing countries increased grain imports, thus substantislly depleting reserves. World is now dependent on annual production. Prices are high due to increased energy costs, reduced supplies, production problems, political and economic considerations and the sporadic nature of the demand for imports. Other problems include planned economies in which incentives no longer exist to produce food; changing of developed countries to resume high production; inability of poorer countries to meet rising costs; basic imbalance in supply and demand; and trade difficulities. there are sufficient resources toincrease world food production, but solving the world food problem and alleviating widespread hunger and malnutrition are far more dependent on policy decisions.

This brochure highlights the facts and issues stated in the comprehensive study published by the Economic Research Service, "The World Food Situation and Prospects to 1985." The study concludes that the world food status can be traced to government policies and basic human conditions, such as poverty.