spadlet, I don't know that it would be that big a deal. Every product sold has had an analysis done of the costs of production and the therefore required returns on investment. Grain farmers do it all the time, it doesn't help with pricing because it is seldom that farmers have any input to the pricing of their product. What they do is get out of a crop if the returns aren't there. If they have options they'll look around and grow what works best. If they don't have options they lose the farm.
What I'm suggesting is that in light of the food/fuel debate, the increasing starvation in needy areas, climate change variables, input costs, and increasing concern over the healthiness of food, that it's time for a group like the UN to undertake such a costing examination. Farmers, consumers, industry, municipal/ rural district governments, examining the price that consumers are paying, checking out where the money is going, what environmental/energy/social subsidies are being paid and by who. On a regional, national, and international basis.
It would be difficult but the present system is laden with difficulties as well.
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