Date : 24/07/2023

Relevance - GS Paper 3: Food Security

Keywords- The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC), Sustainable Development Goal 2 - Zero Hunger, GNAFC (Global Network Against Food Crisis)

Context-:

• The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2023 by GNAFC (Global Network Against Food Crisis) provides critical insights into the state of food insecurity in the world. It highlights the number of people suffering from hunger and explores the challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 - Zero Hunger.
• The report examines various drivers of food insecurity and undernourishment prevalence and offers essential solutions to address this pressing issue.

Key Findings:

Food Insecurity and Undernourishment:

• The GRFC reveals that between 691 million and 783 million people experienced hunger in 2022, indicating a significant increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The number of individuals lacking adequate access to food reached 2.4 billion in 2022, reflecting an increase of 391 million people facing food insecurity compared to 2019. Additionally, the prevalence of undernourishment rose to 9.2% of the global population in 2022, up from 7.9% in 2019.
• Positive Developments: Amidst the concerning figures, the report highlights some positive developments. Stunting, a condition of being too short for one's age among children under five, has declined from 204.2 million in 2000 to 148.1 million in 2022. Child wasting, caused by insufficient nutrient intake or absorption, has also shown a decline from 54.1 million in 2000 to 45 million in 2022. However, the report notes a slight non-significant increase in child overweight or obesity, rising from 5.3% (33 million) in 2000 to 5.6% (37 million) in 2022.
• Cost of a Healthy Diet: The GRFC presents a revised analysis indicating that nearly 3.2 billion people worldwide could not afford a healthy diet in 2020, with a slight improvement in 2021. Over the two-year period from 2019 to 2021, the cost of a healthy diet increased globally by 6.7%. Moreover, the report projects that almost 600 million people will face chronic undernourishment in 2030.

Drivers of Food Insecurity:

• Pandemic-related Disruptions: The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns, economic downturns, and job losses in 2020 have significantly contributed to food insecurity, exacerbating existing challenges.
• Ukraine War: Ongoing conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, have further impacted global food insecurity and disrupted food supply chains.
• Governmental Policies: Certain governmental policies may not adequately address food insecurity, hindering progress toward achieving Zero Hunger.
• Urbanization: The increasing trend of urbanization has brought about changes in agrifood systems, leading to variations in food security levels among different population groups.
• Weather and Climate Extremes: Weather-related events and climate extremes have become the primary driver of acute food insecurity in 12 countries. The impact of extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and storms, has severely disrupted agricultural production and food supply chains.
• Conflict: Conflict and insecurity continue to be the most significant driver of acute food insecurity in 19 countries/territories. Ongoing conflicts and instability have severely affected food access and availability in these regions.

A reminder of Failure:

The report serves as a stark reminder of the world's failure to make progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, and improve nutrition by 2030. The current situation highlights the urgency of addressing food crises and taking concrete actions to ensure food security for all.

Solutions for Zero Hunger:

• Supporting Healthier Food Outlets: The report emphasizes the importance of policy incentives to encourage shops to sell fresh and minimally processed foods. Making healthy diets more accessible, this measure can positively impact food security.
• Addressing Street Food Safety: Street foods, consumed by approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide daily, play a significant role in food consumption. Improving infrastructure and regulations surrounding street food will enhance nutritional safety and quality.
• Building Rural Infrastructure: Investments in rural infrastructure, such as quality rural roads and linkages to main networks, can improve connectivity for small farms and enterprises, bolstering food production and distribution.
• Empowering Local Governments: Local governments play a crucial role in implementing policies that ensure healthy diets are available and affordable for all. Their active involvement can lead to effective multilevel and multi-stakeholder mechanisms.

Conclusion:

The Global Report on Food Crises 2023 sheds light on the persistent challenge of food insecurity around the world. By addressing the drivers of food insecurity and implementing the suggested solutions, the international community can take significant steps towards achieving Zero Hunger and ensuring adequate and nutritious food for all populations.

Source : The Hindu