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This chapter attempts to calculate the grain production and carrying capacity of Attica by analyzing five key variables: land, use of the land, crop yields, population, and consumption. Previous scholarly attempts to calculate these variables are surveyed. As part of the study of land, soil and climate are examined, as well as the extent of arable space, taking into account the use of terracing. As part of the study of land use, the conventional and revised models of Greek farming are compared. The results confirm the continuing usefulness of the former, which would indicate that half of the cultivable land of Attica required fallowing each year, and that natural fertilizers were insufficiently available to overcome this need or to escape relatively low yields. It is argued that the figures of imported grain transmitted by Demosthenes are reliable, and that recent attempts to demonstrate the opposite are unsatisfactory.

This chapter analyzes the transcript of the December 10, 1925 Politburo meeting, and suggests that the political struggle between Joseph Stalin and the Left is linked to the problem of grain production. It explains that Central Statistical Administration chief statistician P. I. Popov became a target for removal during the meeting for his publication of material about potential grain sales in 1925 and 1926, which was used by Lev Kamenev as evidence of increasing social differentiation among the peasantry.

Cyrene, founded around 631 BC, experienced rapid development and became one of the grain baskets of the Greek world. Yet the history and scale of grain production and export from Cyrene remain unknown. This chapter proposes a new reading of the Cyrenean grain supply, combining the results of environmental, archaeological, and institutional approaches.

This chapter examines factors affecting China’s food security. Grain production has shown remarkable growth, both before and during the reform. Total output grew from 163.92 mmt in 1952, the year that marks the beginning of recovery from war; to 304.77 mmt in 1978, the year that marks the start of the ongoing reform; to 571.21 mmt in 2011. However, despite the increase in domestic grain production, food imports have significantly increased in the last few years. Imports of soybeans and edible oils rose from 1.1 mmt and 2.6 mmt in 1996 to 54.8 mmt and 6.87 mmt in 2010, respectively. China also has to deal with the challenges posed by shrinking farmland as a result of urbanization, water shortages, pollution, and population growth.

This chapter examines the prospects for Chinese agriculture given increasing wage rates. Since farm size in China is extremely small and individual land ownership rights are absent, farm size expansion may not proceed at a pace sufficient to improve efficiency. Should China become a major importer of grains in future, world grain prices will soar and poverty is expected to worsen in low-income countries that import grain. The chapter considers whether lessons can be learnt from the experiences of Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. Small farm size continues to be a major stumbling block in China and it remains to be seen if the consolidation of village farmlands will be enough to prevent the potential tragic outcomes.