“Famine” sounds like an old fashioned word. There were famine stories in the Bible, although more recently famines have occurred in war-torn parts of Africa.
Unfortunately it’s a real risk, not very far from home. Follow the link below to this article from the Guardian newspaper, in the UK.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/feb/19/food-crisis-brewing-haiti
Trees That Feed Foundation is hurrying to plant trees there, to reforest and provide a sustainable food supply. But from the sound of it, more is needed!