Of all the problems facing developing nations, hunger is the one most associated with human suffering. Approximately 800 million people in developing nations are chronically undernourished, according to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The Bread for the World Institute estimates that 6 million children die each year from hunger-related causes. In addition, chronic hunger stunts children’s growth and learning, predisposes people to illness and premature death, and prevents them from working for desperately needed income.

Many Americans believe that hunger is a result of global food shortages. Actually, this is not the case. Hunger and malnourishment persist despite adequate global food resources. “The world’s farmers and fishermen now produce more than enough food for every man, woman and child on the planet to be adequately nourished,” says Jacques Diouf...