Global Report Reveals Soaring Undernourishment and Escalating Costs of Healthy Diets amidst Heightened Food Insecurity
The News
According to the recently released Global Report on the Food Crises (GRFC) 2023, the number of people suffering from hunger in 2022 ranged from 691 million to 783 million. Despite no growth in food insecurity during the pandemic years, the 2022 data revealed significantly higher levels of hunger compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019. The report highlights several historic events that contributed to this situation, including the pandemic, economic crisis, the war in Ukraine, surging food prices, and agricultural input costs. The GRFC, supported by the Food Security Information Network and the Global Network against Food Crises, involves 16 partners collaborating to provide a consensus-based assessment of acute food insecurity in various countries.
What is food security?
Food security, as defined by the World Food Summit in 1996, refers to the state where every individual has continuous access to enough safe and nutritious food that fulfills their dietary requirements and preferences, enabling them to lead an active and healthy life. The prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in a population is measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).
Key Findings
The Global Report on the Food Crises (GRFC) states that while hunger has not worsened globally, it remains well above pre-COVID levels, and progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) is off track. In 2022, an estimated 2.4 billion people lacked adequate food, 391 million more than in 2019. Global hunger and food insecurity levels remained unchanged from 2021 to 2022 but were significantly higher than before the pandemic. The report also highlights positive developments in reduced stunting and child wasting but a slight increase in overweight or obese children. The cost of a healthy diet rose by 6.7% between 2019 and 2021, and nearly 600 million people are projected to suffer from chronic undernourishment in 2030.
Key drivers of food insecurity
The report attributes the increase in food insecurity to factors such as pandemic-related disruptions, the Ukraine war, unfavorable governmental policies, and urbanization driving changes in agri-food systems. Interestingly, global food insecurity is found to be lower in urban areas compared to rural and peri-urban populations.
Solutions ahead
The Global Report on the Food Crises (GRFC) 2023 helps identify vulnerable population groups and informs decision-making for effective policies. It emphasizes the importance of sound nutrition in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and suggests supporting healthier food outlets and improving street food safety. The report also recommends building rural infrastructure and involving local governments in implementing essential policies for accessible and affordable healthy diets.
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