Advancements against global hunger identified by UN entities, yet two areas face significant challenges
In a recent report presented by five UN agencies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it was revealed that food price inflation is a major concern in the fight against global hunger, particularly affecting low-income countries and communities.
According to the World Food Report, approximately 2.3 billion people worldwide live in moderate to severe food insecurity. This issue is particularly prevalent in Africa and West Asia, where hunger has increased against the global trend. Last year, around 673 million people worldwide suffered from hunger, with 20% of Africa’s population (about 307 million people) and 12.7% of Western Asia’s population (over 39 million people) experiencing hunger.
The report highlights the struggle for many people to afford food, especially healthier and more nutritious options. Even small price increases could make food unaffordable for many households, exacerbating hunger and malnutrition problems.
The main factors contributing to food insecurity and hunger in Africa and West Asia include supply-side shocks, demand-side shocks, local shocks, and persistent food price inflation. Supply-side shocks, such as disruptions in food production and distribution caused by extreme weather, lead to steep and prolonged rises in food prices. Demand-side shocks can rapidly increase food prices due to sudden consumer demand changes, further destabilizing local food markets. Local shocks like droughts and floods severely damage crops and disrupt supply chains, directly reducing food availability while also suppressing household incomes.
Food price inflation has been severe globally since 2020, with many countries, including those in Africa and West Asia, experiencing cumulative increases above 25%, some exceeding 50%. Such inflation undermines the coping capacity of households and disproportionately affects vulnerable groups like women and children, leading to deteriorations in nutrition and increased food insecurity.
Income disparities worsen the impact of food price inflation because poorer households spend a larger share of their income on food. When prices rise, these households face greater difficulties in securing adequate and nutritious food, thereby intensifying hunger and malnutrition problems.
The UN projects that by 2030, as many as 512 million people could be chronically undernourished worldwide, with nearly 60% in Africa alone. It is crucial to address food price inflation in the fight against global hunger, as it has a significant impact on food affordability for many households.
References:
- World Food Programme
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- International Fund for Agricultural Development
- United Nations Children's Fund
- World Health Organization
- To combat escalating hunger, the UN agencies suggest a review of community and employment policies, as they emphasize the necessity of affordable food, including healthier and nutritious options within the health-and-wellness, lifestyle, food-and-drink, and general-news sectors.
- The World Health Organization, among the UN agencies involved, stresses the need for science to help address food insecurity implications on nutrition, particularly in low-income countries and communities.
- In the context of the fight against global hunger, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations points out the critical role of nutrition in improving health outcomes and reducing malnutrition among vulnerable populations like women and children, supporting evidence-based lifestyle choices.
