ABSTRACT
Transfers of food among countries through commercial trade and food aid have been the major vehicle for stabilizing food supplies in nations affected by unfavorable weather and climate, and by national policies. There is growing evidence that weather and climate fluctuations have increased in frequency and severity, resulting in greater instability in national and world food supplies. Concern about the effects of climate variability has increased dramatically since 1972, because of a series of weather-related events that had serious effects on world food production. Climate-induced crop losses in the areas have grave implications for developing countries dependent upon imported food. Regardless of the success of long-term efforts to increase world food supplies, climate fluctuations, changes in food and agricultural policies, and economic factors will cause short-term instability in these supplies. Both a national food reserves policy and the structuring of bilateral trade agreements offer effective methods for ameliorating food shortfall situations and stabilizing food prices.
