Accession Number:

ADA142453

Title:

Estimation of Critical Population Support Requirements.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. Oct 83-May 84,

Corporate Author:

ENGINEERING AND ECONOMICS RESEARCH INC VIENNA VA

Personal Author(s):

• Cabraal,R. A.
• Dhaliwal,A. S.
• Faby,E. Z.

Report Date:

1984-05-30

Pagination or Media Count:

142.0

Abstract:

This study evaluates the feasibility, costs and benefits of implementing a regionally self-sufficient system for food distribution in the event of a national emergency. A methodology for this evaluation assesses the feasibility of supporting the population of a region from the items produced within the region with minimum amount of outside help. The procedure used is a linear programming model which determines optimal regional monthly food production and consumption mix with minimum inter-regional flows. The consumption mix is selected by the model from different food commodities produced in the region in supplying nutrients for the population. The results of the analysis indicate that most of the regions can meet the food demand themselves with little or no outside help. Inter-regional transportations of food commodities is reduced compared to that in peacetime. The average diet calculated by the model meets the nutritional standards with a smaller quantity of food than the diet recommended by the USDA emergency allowance or peacetime consumption. This strategy is most applicable in a post-attack situation implementation difficulties may preclude its use in pre-attack situations.

Descriptors:

• *EMERGENCIES
• *INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
• *FOOD PROCESSING
• *FOOD DISPENSING
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• REQUIREMENTS
• POLICIES
• DISTRIBUTION
• LINEAR PROGRAMMING
• COST ESTIMATES
• POPULATION
• FEASIBILITY STUDIES
• PLANNING
• SUPPLIES
• BENEFITS
• NATIONAL DEFENSE

Subject Categories:

• Economics and Cost Analysis
• Food, Food Service and Nutrition

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE