Washington began supporting farmers more than a century ago, though the president did not become Farmer-in-Chief until the Depression.

FORBES: It's Time To Kick Farmers Off The Federal Dole

Besides promoting exports and discouraging imports, the EU and America also spend a lot of money supporting their farmers, either by keeping their prices artificially high or by giving them money directly, based on such things as the number of livestock they keep or acres they reap.

ECONOMIST: A small step on the road to Canc��n

Farming in the rest of the world will continue to get more efficient, Europe will import more and more food and the burden of supporting Europe's farmers will increase.

ECONOMIST: Food and science

We will then visit Wenchi, in Western Ghana, to see how SAP and the African Cashew initiative (ACi) are supporting small-scale farmers with innovative technology that benefits actors along the entire agricultural value chain.

FORBES: Nut Farmers in Ghana Crack into Mobile Technology

The National Farmers Union - which is supporting the campaign - estimates around half of the 80, 000 sheep farms across the country could close if the new rules aren't changed.

BBC: Fears over sheep tagging 'folly'

Around the globe, we're standing with those who take responsibility, helping farmers grow more food, supporting doctors who care for the sick, and combating the corruption that can rot a society and rob people of opportunity.

CNN: Transcript: Obama's State of the Union speech

Farmers are given 30-year leases (though often no supporting documents) to use plots of land.

ECONOMIST: Governing China