Eradicating Famines in Theory and Practice: Thoughts on Early Warning Systems

Do we already know enough about famine's causes, effects, indicators, and at-risk populations to block its occurrences? Do we really need more sophisticated and detailed information that would be generated by famine vulnerability maps, GIS, elaborate household food security surveys, and even famine early warning systems? Is the problem really a lack of detailed information? Or is it that we could use existing information in a more effective way? In other words, are we building a better mousetrap when we already know how to catch the mouse? [author]