[Radix] Fwd: Preparations for food crises?

[George Kent]

Radixers --

I got no reply to this, so I'll try a variation on the theme.

One of the first indicators that a food crisis is anticipated is food  
hoarding. When it gets to a high level, it may be possible to  
institute some sort of rationing scheme, but there is a need to  
prepare for that. Has anyone seen good plans, or at least ideas, on  
how to limit hoarding through means short of rationing, and how to  
conduct rationing if and when that becomes necessary?

Food systems would show decisive breakdown when people start resorting  
to violence to get food, by breaking into stores, stealing farm  
produce, etc. Where is the planning to deal with the possibility of  
breakdown of food systems?

Aloha, George



Begin forwarded message:

> From: George Kent <kent at hawaii.edu>
> Date: June 12, 2008 12:08:34 PM HST
> To: radix at ecie.org
> Subject: Preparations for food crises?
>
> 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
>
>
>
>

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