The Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO is concerned that the target of making the world self -sufficient in food and nutrition by the year 2030 may be a pipe dream after all. The world body said the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) hunger and food security target may not be achieved by that year.
This concern issues from the unexpected development around the world where natural disasters, among which are effects of climate change, have impacted negatively on efforts where people and governments have tried to improve on food production. In its State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 report, the Organisation had to admit that the projection would not be achieved, indicating that “Six years from 2030, hunger and food insecurity trends are not yet moving in the right direction to end hunger and food insecurity (SDG Target 2.1) by 2030”.
The global body said indicators of progress towards global nutrition targets similarly show that the world is not on track to eliminate all forms of malnutrition.
BUSHLINK reported that the number of humans suffering from hunger globally rose to 733 million in 2023 with a significant number of women aged 15 to 49 years suffering from anemia.
“Billions of people still lack access to nutritious, safe and sufficient food. Nevertheless, progress in many countries provides hope of the possibility of getting back on track towards hunger and malnutrition eradication” the report reads.
According to FAO, countries must revert to the current trends of hunger, food security and malnutrition before implementing policies, investments and legislation which require proper financing for food security and nutrition.
The UN agency also noted that despite a broad agreement on the urgent need to increase financing for food security and nutrition, the same cannot be said for a common understanding regarding how this financing should be defined and tracked. Recommending solutions, the FAO called for the efficient use of innovative financing tools and reforms to tackle food insecurity.
