If mean, can lead to starvation (6)
I believe the answer is:
famine
'starvation' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'if mean can' is the wordplay.
'can' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'canned' mean this (canned can mean drunk)).
'if'+'mean'='ifmean'
'ifmean' with letters rearranged gives 'FAMINE'.
'lead to' is the link.
(Other definitions for famine that I've seen before include "Widespread scarcity of food" , "Hunger" , "Extreme lack of food" , "Severe and widespread shortage of food" , "Severe shortage of food for many" .)