Context:

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) report, more people were hungry in 2023 than there were before the pandemic in 2019.

About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

It is a United Nations specialized agency that leads global efforts to combat hunger, improve nutrition, and ensure food security.

Its main objective is to ensure universal food security by enhancing agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water resources.

It was founded on 16 October 1945. The day is celebrated as World Food Day.

The FAO has 195 members, including 194 countries and the EU. Its headquarters is in Rome, Italy.

Highlights of the FAO's Report

The report highlighted that 152 million more people were affected by hunger in 2023 than in pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The share of the global population facing hunger in 2023 was 9.1%, up from 7.5% in 2019.

Challenges for achieving SDG 2

The UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 aims for Zero Hunger by 2030 is getting more difficult to achieve due to the rising global hunger, despite increased food production. The growing number of hungry people highlights the challenge of meeting the target in just six years.

Hunger levels Change in Asia between 2019 and 2023

Hunger in Asia increased by 79 million people between 2019 and 2023, bringing the total number of hungry people in the region to 385 million. However, from 2022 to 2023, the number of hungry people in Asia decreased by 2 million.

Highest prevalence of undernourishment

Africa had the highest rate of undernourishment (PoU), followed by Asia. From 2021 to 2023, the global level of malnutrition remained high, however at a slower rate.

Relationship between global food production and rising hunger levels

The global food production has increased by 56% since 2000, however, hunger remains a problem. This trend suggests that hunger is caused by issues such as access, affordability, and inequality, rather than a lack of food.

Other global food-related issue

Obesity rates are also rising, especially in high-income regions. Obesity affects more than 25% of adults in the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, highlighting the global challenge of ensuring everyone has access to nutritious food.

Impact of hunger and malnutrition

Hunger and malnutrition deplete energy and weaken the immune system, leaving people more susceptible to illness and infection. Poor nutrition also reduces productivity, slowing economic growth and resulting in lost GDP.

Women in developing countries suffer greatly from hunger and malnutrition. Gender discrimination restricts their access to financial services, education, and resources, reducing their ability to farm effectively.

Despite their work in food preparation, they frequently eat last or sacrifice their meals for their families, which has an impact on their own and their children’s health.

Malnutrition in women causes iron deficiency and anemia, which can lead to pregnancy complications such as low birth weight babies, who are more susceptible to diseases and premature death. They are also more likely to have underweight babies, which raises the risk of infant mortality.

Malnourished children experience stunting, developmental delays, and a decreased ability to learn, limiting their future potential.

Way Forward

Achieving SDG 2 requires coordinated action on multiple fronts, including reducing inequality, improving food security, increasing access to nutritious food, and developing more resilient food systems capable of overcoming shocks such as climate change and economic downturns.

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Source:

Down to Earth