Some believe that our planet has reached its maximum capacity to support humanity and that we must reduce our population to fix it. It is also said that our planet is fully capable of meeting the nutritional and caloric needs of humanity, now and in the future. Regardless of where one stands between these two arguments, global food security is not where it should be. Uneven development could be the cause. But this is not the only problem affecting the planet. One of these issues is the lasting legacy of the era of empires or colonialism. Spain lost its grip on Latin America to Napoleon, the British and the United States in the 19th century. And not so long ago, the British and French empires collapsed after World War II. Yet many of these countries continue to operate as if they were still colonies. Within these countries, much of the land is owned by a small fraction of the population. These could belong to strong men belonging to the “in” group of political power. Or, these lands could also belong to the political power itself, like Brazil. In Brazil, the richest 10% of farmers own 85% of the land. (Duffy) Land reform will give people the opportunity to grow their own food, which they also might not be able to afford due to a poor economy and other factors. There is currently a movement advocating for land reform in Brazil. However, the question of how to manage land reform without it leading to forced redistribution or legal plunder should be on people's minds. Venezuela is a country where such acts are currently happening, where the small number of massive landowners are not in the middle of paper. Works cited Arsenault, C. (March 2, 2014). Is hoarding causing food shortages in Venezuela? Retrieved April 24, 2014 from Al Jazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/inowned/features/2014/03/hoarding-causing-venezuela-food-shortages-20143210236836920.htmlBrazil expects soybean harvest of 90 million tonnes, which is the world's leading producer. (December 12, 2013). Retrieved April 24, 2014 from Merco Press: http://en.mercopress.com/2013/12/12/brazil-expects-a-90-million-tons-soybean-crop-making-it-the-world-s -top-producer Doyle, M. (October 5, 2010). The United States is urged to end rice subsidies in Haiti. Retrieved April 24, 2014 from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11472874 Duffy, G. (nd). Wilpert, G. (nd). Chávez's legacy of land reform for Venezuela. Extract from Review of Agrarian Studies: http://www.ras.org.in/chavezs_legacy_of_land_reform_for_venezuela