Reasons for the World's Food Surpluses and Shortages

Reasons for the World's Food Surpluses and Shortages

In the world today, the three richest people in the world have more

money than the 600,000 poorest. It is clear that the main reason for

there being food surpluses in some countries and shortages in others,

is the widening gap between the rich and the poor. In many LEDCs, such

as Ethiopia and Mali in Africa and India in Asia, people are suffering

from malnutrition and famine. Whereas in MEDCs, especially in North

America and Europe, people are suffering from obesity and food

surpluses.

Until the late 1980s, both MEDCs and LEDCs were seeking to intensify

farming and increase food production. However, in order to convert

from extensive to intensive farming, (increasing inputs and efficiency

to increase output) intention, planning and investment were needed. In

MEDCS such as in the UK, farms began to increase in size due to

amalgamation, enabling ‘economies of scale’ and farming became a

business, with agro-scientists developing new seeds to suit certain

climates and environments. These factors, together with mechanisation

and specialisation, in which workers were given jobs best suited for

their skills, meant that efficiency increased and therefore so did

output.

Whereas in LEDCs, such as many countries in West and East Africa,

certain social, economical and environmental factors have prevented

them from intensifying and consequently, increasing food production.

There is a lack of capital investment, and Foreign Direct Investment

(FDI) from overseas often increases the country’s debt making it

almost impossible to mechanise and increase output. In addition,

extreme absolut...

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...Buffer stocks) However, the

constant good seasons meant that food kept building up as the EU could

not sell any and the high minimum price set caused severe food

surpluses such as the ‘butter mountains’.

MEDCs developed long before the majority of LEDCs, and in that time,

were able to build up their wealth and political status and therefore

create the investment and technological intelligence needed for

ensuring sufficient food supplies. In addition, the stable climatic

conditions and slowing population growth rates have meant that

countries such as the UK have less difficulty in sustaining food

supplies. Whereas in many LEDCs, vast poverty mixed with unpredictable

natural disasters and high population growth rates prevents

agricultural development and therefore leads to periodic food

shortages and malnutrition.