A country has many starving people. Should they grow vegetables and corn to eat, or should they grow corn to feed cattle so they can eat beef? Explain.

Beef from cattle finished on grass is much better than beef from cattle finished on field corn.

Grass-finished beef and home-grown vegetables (including sweet corn, not field corn)..

A country that has many starving people, needs to throw out their corrupt leaders and do-nothing bureaucrats. That country needs real leaders who can effect real change, who can organize people and institutions to build roads, harbors, factories, and farms, who can bring investment and jobs to people. The problem is related more to poverty. It isn't as simple as choosing between primary or secondary production. There are many people who live in countries that can't grow anything. Availability of water for drinking, irrigation, and business is probably a major limiting factor for some countries.

But the question you are really asking is what is the most sustainable way of farming. There is no simple answer that can be applied to a single starving country. I found an interesting argument that can give you points to consider - Compassion in World Farming. (I refer you to the website only for this specific viewpoint.)

Interesting - doesn't answer the question which says nothing about corrupt leaders, but interesting just the same.