I could, with a single strike, improve the lives of thousands of poverty striken farmers, boost the economies of some of the poorest parts of the world AND save Western taxpayers millions.

It is simple. Abolishing trade subsidy schemes such as the European CAP and the American farm trade schemes could accomplish a long-lasting improvement in the lives and incomes of literally thousands. Via The Economist I've come across a report by Oxfam on one small example, The Great EU Sugar Scam. There is a good summary by the BBC.

Forget about arguments on preserving the agricultural heritage of Europe (or America). The biggest winners are large corporations. In the case of sugar in Europe, Oxfam says Beghin Say benefits by EUR236mm, Sudzucker by EUR201mm and Tate & Lyle by EUR158mm. Europe spends half its budget on its Common Agricultural Policy. And the main winners are large companies, not small famers working small plots. The same is true in the US and the pork-laden Farm Act (pun intended), which is another form of corporate welfare.

I don't know when taxpayers in Europe and America are going to wake up to the massive waste and welfare their agri-businesses are able to drain from them. I don't know when these taxpayers are going to realise that these subsidies actually raise prices, keep poor people poor, prevent poor countries from exporting and distort trade. I don't know when taxpayers are going to realise they being ripped-off. But God I hope they wake up one day and stop falling for the protectionist clap-trap the cossetts these companies. It will make the world a better place, in more ways than one.