The book examines the role of government after 70 years of food supply chain intervention. It discusses the role of commercial ‘trade’ markets and cluster industries and how these can quickly disintegrate when price distortions occur. The author studies both food importing and exporting countries and concludes that comingled commoditization of food has led to increased hoarding, corruption, and dependence on food aid. He argues that a competitive food supply chain that has minimum intervention is more likely to provide future food security. In conclusion the book emphasizes that adequate rewards, competition, and striving for supply chain efficiencies are the essences of sustainable food security.
John Williams is the Executive Director of the Australian Food Security Institute and a Fellow in Agribusiness at the Centre for Study of Rural Australia, Marcus Oldham College. He has rural science-economics degrees, a master in agribusiness, and a PhD on farmer decision-making psychology from The University of Melbourne.