Letters

摘要

Globally, we all face potential shortages of food for humans and feed for animals (14 June, p 28) which have, as yet, not seriously affected most countries. It needs to be pointed out that wherever there is fighting there are food shortages, famines and malnutrition - as seen in large areas of Africa now.rnIt seems unlikely that superficial food aid, however well organised, will on its own be a satisfactory solution if fighting continues. Improved agricultural production requires control of parasites and infections such as foot and mouth disease and rinderpest, and fungal diseases in crops. These require, as you rightly say, research institutes and scientists, local education programmes and trained fieldworkers: none of these can operate in the midst of warfare.