Final answer:
Overdependence on a few staple foods increases famine risk due to the potential for crop failure and lack of fallback options, also affected by macroeconomic policies affecting food distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The risk of famine increases with overdependence on a few staple foods for several reasons. One significant risk is that the fewer the variety of staple crops, the greater the danger posed by crop failure. If a region relies heavily on one or two staple crops and is struck by a problem such as disease, extreme weather, or a pest invasion, there is no fallback crop, leading to food shortages. Macroeconomic policies that result in food distribution problems can also contribute to famine. Furthermore, excessive dependence on staple foods for trade can exacerbate vulnerability to famine if economic circumstances change.
Food security is better ensured in a system where agriculture produces a diversity of foods, enabling a wider distribution and the ability to withstand single crop failures. The work of Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen emphasizes the importance of stable inflation, full employment, education of women, and preservation of property rights in eliminating starvation and ensuring a more equitable distribution of food.