Assuming the professor's wealth is around average for professors it does not seem likely that the professor's buying power would be sufficient to act as a great

Assuming the professor's wealth is around average for professors it does not seem likely that the professor's buying power would be sufficient to act as a greater signal to 'the markets' than the paper written. The professor very likely does not have enough money to signal to 'the markets' to increase food production and thereby prevent mass starvation. This suggestion of yours seems patently absurd.