Grains and Oilseed Cropland: A Global Perspective

Current tight grain markets have led some commentators to argue that the world is entering a phase of rising food scarcity. The present situation js related to the rise in world consumption, which has tended to outpace production during the 1990s. While most supply shortages were due to weather shocks, the global area planted to grains has decreased from 1,784 million acres in l 980to 1,718 million acres in 1996 (USDA). The question remains, Are there enough land resources available globally to meetfutwe production needs? The combined grains and oilseeds area has, however, increased tWer that same period