01272naa a2200193 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000220006024501300008226000090021252007090022165000160093065300080094665300150095465300160096970000220098570000170100777300540102418887922011-10-05       2011    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d1 aSOUZA, G. da S. e  aPotential improvement of agricultural output for major producers based on DEA efficiency measurements.h[electronic resource]  c2011  aIn this article we perform production efficiency analysis for the 40 countries with largest value added by agricultural sector in 2005. Under the assumption of a nonparametric frontier and production observations satisfying a statistical model including both random and inefficiency errors, we estimate an agricultural production function using DEA measures of efficiency with output orientation and variable returns to scale. We found evidence that the set of countries investigated could increase their total value added by agricultural sector for at least 53.9% without increasing input usage with the prevailing technology. This result has a direct impact on issues related to the recent food crisis.  aAgriculture  aDEA  aEfficiency  aFood crisis1 aMOREIRA, T. B. S.1 aGOMES, E. G.  tPESQUISA OPERACIONAL.gv.31, n.1, p. 79-93, 2011.