"Plan B is shaped by what is needed to save civilization, not by
what may currently be considered politically feasible." –Lester
R. Brown, Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization Closing
the gap in the world grain harvest this year following four
consecutive grain harvest shortfalls, each larger than the one
before, will not be easy. The grain shortfall of 105 million
tons in 2003 is easily the largest on record, amounting to 5
percent of annual world consumption of 1,930 million tons. The
four harvest shortfalls have dropped world carryover stocks of
grain to the lowest level in 30 years, amounting to only 59 days
of consumption. Wheat and corn prices are at 7-year highs. Rice
prices are at 5-year highs. (See data.) Can the world's farmers
close the gap this year? In addition to the usual uncertainties
farmers face, they must now contend with two newer
trends—falling water tables and rising temperatures. If there is
another large shortfall, grain prices will continue the rise of
recent months, driving up