Agriculture has always been influenced by the actions of governments around the world. Never has this been more evident than during the first half of the 20th century, when two major wars profoundly disrupted food production. In response to the tumultuous economic climate, European countries implemented tariffs and other measures to protect local agriculture. Such initiatives had global ramifications, and by the mid-20th century various international organizations had been established to monitor and promote agricultural development and the well-being of rural societies. Western Europe, as the 20th century opened, was recovering from an economic depression during which most of the ...(100 of 27369 words)