In an era of unparalleled affluence, famine is still a recurrent threat for communities in Africa and elsewhere. Famines caused an unprecedented 70 million deaths during the twentieth century. Eradication of famine in Europe and near eradication in Asia in the second half of the twentieth century was a milestone in the history of famine. Causal factors as well as community and individual responses to famine vary greatly according to the local political, cultural, and economic context. What has worked in Asia does not apply for Africa, and new strategies to mitigate the effects of and foremost to prevent famines are required. Efforts may be hindered by the rising threat of global warming. © 2008 Copyright © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.