- The grain supply
- Food security


[SLIDE 1]

Human beings have been trading grains for centuries. Grains include wheat, rice, corn, barley, rye and sorghum. Initially, only western Europe imported grain. By the 1950s, this had changed. Asia and Africa now import a significant amount of grain.

Today, the United States is the bread basket of the world and the major source of exportable grains. Most governments maintain a grain reserve of 70 days, some have more. There is enough grain in the world today to feed every human being. However, the problem is not the food supply but the access, as many people cannot afford food.


[SLIDE 2]

From 2006-2008, the price of food went up a lot and there were food riots and emergency measures in many countries.

Concern for food security, or access for every individual to nutritious food to sustain an active and healthy life, has gone up.

In a capitalist economy like ours, there is enough food being produced, but being able to eat nutritious food requires having enough money to buy it. The bulk of this responsibility falls upon families.

When families cannot meet needs, they need a safety net - policies or programs that meet the food security needs of everyone in society at the local, state or national level. Today, more than 50,000 local charities feed Americans who are hungry. Feeding America is a network of food banks that provides emergency food help for 25 million Americans.