Political Implications of United States Food Production in International Relations.

摘要

The twin spectres of global population growth and food scarcities were studied; and the effects of climatic variability leading to unexpected and unpreventable global food shortfalls were considered. The United States provides about three-fourths of the world's net grain exports; and the United States is the only nation in the world that other nations can turn to for large quantities of grain. It seems certain that the United States will face increasingly difficult choices in the future about how to allocate her food resources between affluent and poor nations. Consideration was given to decisions that will have to be made whether it is in the best national interest to sell food for monetary gain; to provide food to other countries for political ends; to use food for humanitarian purposes; or to employ a mix of these options. Finally, types of assistance and assistance programs in which the United States could participate to help alleviate global food shortages were discussed. (Author)