In an article adapted from a new book on world hunger, The Wall Street Journal reports on Howard Buffett’s behind-the-scenes work to combat Africa’s food shortage.

Mr. Buffett, the second of the billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett’s three children, spends much of his time in Africa, trying to spread agricultural practices with which he’s had success on his own corn and soybean farm in Illinois. His Howard G. Buffett Foundation will disburse about $38-million this year to help African farmers develop drought- and disease-resistant crops and market their wares to United Nations relief programs, among other agricultural projects.

The foundation’s spending has grown eightfold since 2006, when the elder Mr. Buffett began making annual contributions of Berkshire Hathaway stock to his children’s charities.

Read a profile of Howard Buffet from The Chronicle’s archive.

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