Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization?

An article by Lester R. Brown in the May issue of Scientific American Magazine postulates what might happen if massive, lasting world-wide food shortages develop. The biggest threat to global stability is the potential for food crises in poor countries to cause governments to collapse. He points out that food scarcity and the resulting higher food prices are already pushing poor countries into chaos. Such “failed states” can export disease, terrorism, illicit drugs, weapons and refugees. Water shortages, soil losses and rising temperatures from global warming are placing severe limits on food production. Without massive and rapid intervention to address these three environmental factors, the author argues, a series of government collapses could threaten the world order.