On the Role of Systems Analysis in Aiding Countries Facing Acute Food Shortages

Modern systems analysis can play an important role in developing strategies and systems for reducing human misery and starvation in countries undergoing food crises. A "survival model" is described that permits the model user to explore various strategies for managing available food as a simulated country undergoes a food crisis. Model results are presented that indicate that some strategies make much better use of available food than others and lead to significantly higher survival rates in the afflicted population. Model results suggest several specific areas where systems analysts can contribute meaningfully to the effective use of available food resources in feeding people undergoing acute food shortage.