The global financial crisis has had its negative effect on world food production. During 2008 most food items skyrocketed in price. Importing countries were taken by surprise. Underdeveloped or developing countries suffered greatly especially that they got used to depending on importing subsidized goods at lower than their own cost of production for decades. Such countries need time, incentives and clear economic policies that would encourage them to invest in food production.
Following is my perception of the course of action that needs to be taken by all countries of the world in order to double the global food production to meet the demands of the over 9 billion people on earth by the year 2050.
I shall not delve into the rationale behind this target since it has been well covered by FAO and other international organizations and think tanks.
Countries with food production capabilities which are not subsidized need to be encouraged to carry on with expanding their production in order to meet part of the needs of other countries whose food production capabilities are limited.
Countries with food production capabilities, however require to subsidize such production as a strategic policy of food security and safety, should limit their production to their countries' needs and should never be encouraged to over produce for export purposes, since this subsidized production will distort production policies in other countries.
World Trade Organization agreements should be amended to include prevention of all direct and certain indirect subsidies targeting production exceeding self sufficiency of any country.
Regional cooperation between countries should be encouraged to target increased production and exchange of produce.
Food importing countries who have land, water and climate resources to produce food but do not due to technical or financial reasons, should be encouraged to adopt the necessary legislation, particularly protection measures, in order to limit imports and encourage investment in food production for self sufficiency.
Arab countries, as a regional entity, should collectively work on investing in food production in countries such as Sudan, Morocco, Algiers, Tunisia, Iraq and Syria in order to become self sufficient. Protective measures should be amongst the primary triggering incentives towards that goal.
The private sector in all countries should take the lead in executing investment in food production.
Governments of all countries are required to take the following measures in order to help increase food production:
Execute all necessary infra-structure that would help food production such as roads, bridges, canals, lakes, rail roads, ports, silos etc.... to be financed by their resources or by World Bank or both. Put up the necessary legislation to protect local production at the expense of imports.