Thottappilly, G., Sardaya College of Engineering and Technology, Kodakara, Kerala, India
Loebenstein, G., Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel

Rapidly growing populations, recent total neglect of the agriculture sector by many governments, the diversion of certain food crops (maize and sorghum) for biofuel production and the frequent crop failures have aggravated food scarcity in developing countries. The poor are the most vulnerable to high and increasing prices and growing shortages of the basic food and it will lead to chronic hunger and malnutrition, and eventually to famine in extreme cases. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009. All rights reserved.