Signals  all over the world of chronic food shortages are becoming alarmingly pervasive due to uncertainties in production and increased demand of growing populations.  Thousands upon thousands die daily of starvation, let alone malnutrition.  Typhoons, floods, droughts, infestations, and other vagaries of nature wreak havoc on agriculture.  Added to this grim picture are man-cause problems such as deforestation, the depletion of arable land due to population pressure and unregulated urbanization, and the notorious oil price increase with all its ramifications