[Radix] Preparations for food crises?

[George Kent]

Radix pals --

Amid the current worldwide talk about a food crisis, there are some  
people imagining the possibility of extreme food shortages in the US.  
See, for example, http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=29974028

What can you tell us about the current status of planning for a food  
crisis in the US, at the federal level or the state level?

I think the key to disaster planning regarding food would be food  
storage. Warehouses in the US generally hold no more than a few days  
worth of food. However, there would also have to be a rationing plan  
of some sort, since the impulse to hoard would be so strong. We  
recently had a run on rice here in Hawai'i, provoked by rumors about  
short supplies. The run would be much bigger in a true crisis.

There is now rapidly escalating trade in food commodity futures. That  
is just another form of hoarding.

I think the probability of a serious food crisis in the US is  
relatively low, partly because each state has multiple food sources  
and backup from the federal government. However, food crises certainly  
are imaginable. It would be irresponsible for the states and the  
federal government to not have food crisis plans in place.

So, what is the current state of preparation for food crises? Do we  
have any good model plans anywhere?

Aloha, George

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Professor George Kent
Department of Political Science
2424 Maile Way, Saunders 610
University of Hawai'i
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96822
USA

Phone:    1 808 396-9422
Cell:         1 808 389-9422
Fax:          1 808 956-6877
Email:       kent at hawaii.edu
Website:   http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kent
Skype ID: geokent