One in 11 people may go hungry in the world by 2023, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), released on Wednesday morning (24). There has been a global prevalence of undernutrition at a similar level for three consecutive years after having increased sharply following the covid-19 pandemic. The document states that the world is far from achieving the sustainable development goal (SDG-2) of eradicating hunger by 2030.
“Between 713 and 757 million people may face hunger by 2023 – one in 11 people globally, and one in five in Africa.” There are a number of factors that impact the most vulnerable populations, including conflict, climate change, economic slowdowns and recessions.
Last year, it was estimated that 28.9% of the world’s population (or 2.33 billion people) were moderately or severely food insecure.
“The increase in hunger is greater in poor countries affected by more than one major driver. This is because the agri-food systems in these countries are not resilient to these external forces.” One warning is that hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition continue to increase “and disproportionately affect children.”
Other more vulnerable groups have been women, young people and indigenous peoples, according to the document.
Financing
FAO assesses that a serious problem is the lack of a common solution regarding financing for food and nutrition security. “In the case of financing for food and nutrition security, it is not possible to adequately assess existing levels, much less monitor progress or setbacks (in meeting the targets)”.
The entity explains that there is an urgent need to move towards common action to finance food security. An analysis of 10 low- and middle-income countries (which includes Brazil) shows that public spending on food security and nutrition was growing before the COVID-19 pandemic.
In FAO’s assessment, governments in some middle-income countries also appear to be spending relatively more of their budgets on addressing the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition compared to low-income countries. FAO argues that the report is a “strong and urgent” call for global aid and also for national action to address this problem as part of the global agenda for action on the sustainable development goals. “There are inequalities in access to financing for food security and nutrition between and within countries.”
The study finds that around 63% of countries with high or increasing hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition struggle to obtain financing for food security and nutrition. “Most of these countries (82%) are affected by one or more of the main drivers of hunger (…). And so it is important to increase financing for countries with higher levels of hunger.”
Partnerships
The report argues that official and public sources of funding alone will not be enough to fill the funding gap to end hunger.
“Increasing private financing, through public-private partnerships, will also be essential to complement efforts.”
FAO argues that failing to meet the 2030 agenda entails immeasurable social, economic and environmental costs. “There is no time to waste, as the cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of action.”
The data in the report will serve as a basis for discussions, according to FAO, at the Future Summit in September this year and at the International Conference on Financing for Development next year.
Obesity
Rising trends in adult obesity and anemia among women aged 15 to 49 are considered worrying, according to the FAO.
The document shows that the prevalence of obesity among adults has increased steadily over the past few decades, from 12.1% (591 million people in 2012) to 15.8% (881 million people in 2022). “The number is expected to increase to more than 1.2 billion by 2030. Regarding anemia in women aged 15 to 49, it increased from 28.5% in 2012 to 29.9% in 2019 and is projected to reach 32.3% by 2030.
On the other hand, the document identified that there would be fewer children affected by stunting. In fact, the report points out that stunting in children may have decreased by a third in the last two decades, which would show a positive global change. In the FAO’s assessment, these are positive changes, such as the “right to adequate food and a standard of living that ensures the dignity, health and well-being of all people, especially for future generations”.
