the UN General Assembly

“ At the same time, there is a tendency in some countries to reduce the areas under cultivation of cereals and other foodstuffs, which may cause unwarranted price increases and still further aggravate the food situation. Inflationary prices, and other price factors, in many cases constitute another obstacle to the production and distribution of food supplies to those in need. ”

“ In addition, some countries of Latin America are experiencing food shortages and are obliged to import grain.
The General Assembly has learned with concern that expected supplies of bread grains, rice, fats and oils, dairy products, meat and sugar appear to be substantially inadequate to meet minimum requirements for human consumption in 1947. Many countries, especially those which have suffered from enemy occupation and those which do not produce sufficient foodstuffs to meet their own requirements, need agricultural supplies such as machinery, implements, fertilizers, pesticides and seeds. ”

“ The General Assembly recognizes, however, that the food situation is still unsatisfactory. A number of countries have not yet overcome the devastating results of the enemy occupation to which they were subjected, and are obliged on this account to continue emergency imports of grains, fats and other foodstuffs. A severe shortage of these foodstuffs exists in many European countries, even in some of those which before the war were themselves exporters. ”