252. Letter From Secretary of State Vance to the Chairman of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger (Linowitz)1
Thank you for your October 24 letter2 which requested the designation of a contact person between the Presidential Commission on World Hunger and the Department of State. The letter also asked for a summary of issues which I believe most appropriate for the Commission’s attention.
[Page 826]As you know, analyzing the causes of world hunger and malnutrition and finding solutions to these often intractable problems is no easy task. Both the private and public sectors in our country and in other countries have been making considerable efforts in the post-World War II period to resolve these problems. Progress has been made but, worldwide, the number of hungry and malnourished is growing. Obviously, more needs to be done and I am pleased you and the members of your Commission will assist in this effort.
Some of the most important issues which I believe the Commission should address are the following:
—Increasing food production worldwide, but particularly in food deficit developing countries. Developing country food production increases in recent years have exceeded the 4 percent target agreed to for the United Nations Second Development Decade. This favorable performance, however, is primarily attributable to favorable weather conditions, rather than to basic underlying reforms having been made in the food and agriculture sector. Inadequate economic and political policies and conditions still prevent sustained food output increases in many developing countries, and in addition reduce private and public investment in the agricultural sector.
Other constraints to expanded food output in developing countries must also be overcome. Examples of these are inadequate management and shortage of trained manpower, capital shortages, inadequate and inappropriate technology, substantial post-harvest losses due to inadequate storage facilities, and productivity losses due to people debilitated by hunger and disease.
—Dealing effectively with problems of under-consumption and malnutrition. Though there is at present no widespread famine in the world, many millions of people (estimates range between 400 million and one billion) do not have an adequately nutritious diet. Underlying this problem is the issue of effective demand among groups of people within individual countries. We have learned that economic growth and prosperity in a given country does not necessarily produce additional benefits including access to necessary food supplies for the poorer members of society. While the problem is focused in the poorer developing countries, it is worldwide in scope.
—Feeding the hungry and malnourished requires significantly improved food distribution systems both among countries and within the poorer developing nations. The food crisis of 1972–74 evidenced many instances of localized famine in countries and regions where adequate food supplies were available, but inadequate transport systems made it impossible to deliver the food where it was needed most. Improved distribution systems also involve ensuring a better local and regional food supply/demand balance.
[Page 827]—Developing flexible policies to deal with the wide range of problems faced by developing countries in meeting their food requirements. Some developing countries already have sufficient supplies and expected foreign exchange earnings to purchase all the food imports they are likely to need. Another group of countries can attain this position with help. For some, increased agricultural development assistance can expand food production, others would benefit most from reduced trade barriers, while still others need help such as liberal credits to finance imports in short supply years. An effective U.S. and international food strategy must deal meaningfully with all these varied situations and needs.
—Continuing efforts to deal intelligently and effectively with other factors affecting world hunger such as accelerating worldwide losses of arable land from mismanagement of the resource base (deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, salination, etc.), the rising cost of energy, chemicals and raw materials required by agriculture, and limitations on water for agriculture imposed by growing competition among nations and regions.
—Finally, it is impossible to ignore the transcendent problem of population growth rates, which not only threaten the long-term food supply/demand balance, but have profound implications for a range of related factors vitally affecting life on this planet including deforestation, loss of croplands, urbanization, social unrest, and public health. Based on current growth rates, the world’s population will double to 8 billion people by 2010. Over 90 percent of the projected population increase will occur in developing countries which are most susceptible to hunger and malnutrition. Existing population/family planning programs in many countries have shown first signs of success; clearly they must be further improved and expanded if we are to avoid prodigious strains on food and other natural resources.
I hope the foregoing provides a useful list of issues for the Commission’s consideration. Michael P. Boerner, Director of the Office of Food Policy and Programs will be the Department of State’s liaison officer with the Commission. You may be assured that the Department of State will cooperate fully with the Commission in its endeavors.
Sincerely,