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About zero hunger

The Global Context

What’s happening in Australia?

What’s happening in Australian Schools?

What you can do about it

About zero hunger

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Much of the online content we read about food focuses on what to eat, what not to eat, and where to eat. Unfortunately, society is still experiencing a massive divide on those who have those options, and those who do not.

The number of people affected by hunger and food insecurity across the world only continues to worsen as an international concern. Food security is an umbrella term that means a lack of access and availability to sufficient and nutritious food, and it can result in hunger, malnutrition, and possibly starvation.

Over 821 million people around the globe are still regularly undernourished, which means more than 1 in 9 of the world’s population do not get sufficient food to eat on a daily basis. (World Food Program, 2019).

Unfortunately, we’re seeing a return to levels of food insecurity and hunger from a decade ago. Studies project that the growing statistics around those affected by hunger indicate that the world will not complete its proposed goal of realising Zero Hunger by 2030. This significant reversal in progress is a clear warning for all of us that more must be done and quickly if the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger is to be achieved at all.

Global hunger is a challenge that stems from many issues—both environmental and political. We need to forge a path for resolution through the development of better food production systems, sustainable education to stakeholders in the system, and through conflict resolution of civil unrest. This global process requires efforts on both international and local levels, as well as the support and cooperation of us all to create sustainable solutions and ensure food security for all.

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Zero Hunger Film

Author: The Global Goals | (The Global Goals, 2017)

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WORLD HUNGER STATISTICS

Reflecting on the most recent statistics surrounding global hunger is a sobering experience for anyone.

• “As of 2017, 821 million people were undernourished.
• Developing countries account for where the majority of the world’s hungry reside, with 12.9% of the population being undernourished.
• Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of hunger for a single region, with the rate having increased from 20.7% in 2014 to 23.2% in 2017.
• Poor nutrition causes nearly half (45%) of child mortality rates for those aged under five—that’s 3.1 million children across the world every year.
• 149 million children under 5 years old—22% of the global under-5 population—were chronically undernourished in 2018.” (UN Sustainable Development Goals, n.d.)

Unfortunately, extreme hunger and malnutrition continue to be a huge barrier to development in many countries. This is often a direct consequence of environmental degradation and the loss of biodiversity, as well as drought from climate change and human influences.

There are silver linings on the global horizon though. With rapid economic growth and increased agricultural productivity around the world, the number of undernourished people has almost been halved in the past 20 years. In addition, many developing countries that used to suffer from hunger and famine can now meet their populations’ nutritional needs. For example, Central and East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean have all made significant progress to end extreme hunger. (UNDP Laton America and the Caribbean, n.d.)

Despite some progress being made, agricultural production will still need to increase in production by an estimated 50% by 2050 in order to meet the needs of a growing population. In extreme cases, fragile food production systems will lead to starvation or even famine.

What are we doing to help meet these demands and to end this suffering? Read on to find out.

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THE GOAL TO END HUNGER BY 2030

"Rethink Zero" - the Zero Hunger Challenge

Author: Zero Hunger | (Zero Hunger, 2015)

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The aim of the Sustainable Development Goal 2 is to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition to ensure that people all around the world, and especially children, have access to sufficient and nutritious food all year around. The Zero Hunger initiative as outlined in the video is the United Nations global campaign intended to realise this goal.

Hunger and malnutrition have lasting consequences and can seriously impact the physical and mental health of people—particularly in children who are experiencing their formative years. Many children who suffer from malnutrition are also affected by stunted growth, intellectual diminishment, and are more susceptible to other health problems and early death. (World Health Organization, 2020)

How can we make this food security a reality? This comprehensive vision requires international investment and cooperation to ensure the proper infrastructure and technology is available to improve agricultural productivity in areas with high food insecurity.

It also involves promoting sustainable agriculture, supporting local, small-scale farmers and equal access to land, technology and markets. About 26% of workers around the world are employed in agriculture. That’s over a quarter of the global workforce! (The World Bank, 2020)

As you watched in "Rethink Zero" - the Zero Hunger Challenge, transforming our food systems is a necessary step to transform our world. The critical path to ending malnutrition in all of its forms have been identified by the United Nations in its Zero Hunger Challenge depicted here. (UN Zero Hunger Challenge, n.d.)

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GLOBAL EFFORTS TO END WORLD HUNGER

While the world attempts to make great strides in tackling the problems around hunger and malnourishment, the fight is far from over. People across the world suffer from the effects of not enough food every day. As the global population continues to increase, so do the demands for food. This issue is more important than ever, and it’s created the need to establish sustainable, lasting solutions in our food supply to ensure all people have proper access to daily nutrition.

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What is food security, and what can I do to help achieve it?

Author: Petrina Darrah | (Darrah, 2019)

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As overwhelming as the global situation is, each of us individually really can make a difference if we’re united in our sustainable goals. For example, Nicole Perez; the U.S. Youth Observer to the UN visited the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) headquarters in Rome along with 160 students from around the world for the world’s first #zerohackathon. The event was hosted by the U.S. Mission to the UN in Rome and the Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI) to raise awareness around the global cause for ending hunger.

The students gathered for two days to brainstorm solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges concerning hunger, agriculture, sustainability, and climate change. See what Nicole Perez learned about these challenges and discover what the FAO is doing to help achieve Zero Hunger.

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U.S. Youth Observer to the UN learns how FAO is achieving #ZeroHunger (Courtesy of FAO)

Author: USUN Rome | (USUN Rome, 2016)

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#HealthyNotHungry is another social media campaign organised through a joint effort by the World Food Programme, Project Everyone, UNICEF and others that aims to speed up progress towards a healthy and equitable world.

The campaign aligns with the Zero Hunger goals to improve health through its five main ‘ingredients’ to eliminate hunger:

1. “Putting the furthest behind first to save and change the lives of the poorest two billion people;
2. Paving the road from farms to markets to ensure everyone has access to affordable, nutritious food;
3. Reducing food waste so that all the food produced reaches the plates of those who need it;
4. Encouraging a sustainable variety of crops to increase the nutritional value of diets and support farmers growing local varieties;
5. Making nutrition a priority, starting with the first 1,000 days of life, to combat stunting and promote a healthy development in all children.”(The Global Goals, n.d.a.)

Read more about #HealthyNotHungry below.

Healthy Not Hungry

Author: World Food Program Insight | (World Food Programme, 2017)

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There are many types of programs around the world that aim to assist with creating lasting food security in the areas that need it. Volunteers are able to be part of the fight against hunger by supporting the efforts of sustainable agriculture and by taking part in community development programs. Watch the video below to learn more about how you can take an active role in reducing food waste.

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This video will change the way you see food. #ZeroHunger starts with you.

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | ("GI Market food", n.d.)

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Don’t forget to check out the above campaigns too and get involved to contribute your part to ending world hunger.

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