Agriculture is one of the most heavily subsidized and protected US industries. A not-insignificant amount of a farmer's income is just a federal check to mainta

Agriculture is one of the most heavily subsidized and protected US industries. A not-insignificant amount of a farmer's income is just a federal check to maintain excess capacity in case of a shortage and to stabilize prices. Food prices the world over are the lowest they have been in history. Grain prices are so low that grain is now fed to meat producing livestock--a new historical development. Food is so historically cheap that most of the western world can afford to be overweight and even the poor are obese. This small preserve is a drop in the bucket compared to the millions of hectares of Amazonian forest that has been cleared for ranching. The trend in most of the world is clearing forest for more agriculture, whether it is palm oil or bananas or livestock. Whatever nefarious force you think is plotting a famine will not remain in power for long if there is a real famine. The actual people in charge know this and have no intention of asking the peasants to eat cake.