Advancements in combating hunger - not uniformly across all regions
In a concerning development, rising food prices are causing a significant increase in food insecurity and hunger in low-income countries and communities worldwide. The issue is compounded by various factors, including poverty, conflict, climate change, weak food systems, gender and income inequalities, and external shocks such as pandemics, wars, and extreme weather events.
Most families in these countries cannot afford basic nutritious foods needed for healthy development and productivity. Conflict and climate change intensify food insecurity by disrupting food production and supply systems. Urbanization, with its increasing reliance on market-purchased food, also increases vulnerability to food price rises.
Women, in particular, face higher food insecurity due to differences in income, education, social networks, and exposure to shocks. A 10% increase in food prices correlates with a 3.5% rise in moderate or severe food insecurity and a 1.8% increase in severe food insecurity in these countries.
The World Food Report, presented by five UN agencies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, highlights that food price inflation disproportionately affects the ability of poorer households to access sufficient and quality food. In 2020, approximately 2.3 billion people worldwide lived in moderate to severe food insecurity, with 673 million experiencing hunger. Despite progress, 8.2 percent of the world's population still went hungry in 2020.
The report underlines the importance of addressing food price inflation in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. Hunger increased against the global trend in Africa and West Asia, while progress in the battle against hunger was mainly observed in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and South America.
Poorer households spend a larger share of their income on food, making even small price increases unaffordable. This situation worsens access to adequate diets, reversing progress in reducing hunger. Between 2019 and 2024, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet in low-income countries rose by over 80 million, despite a global decline overall.
The report emphasizes the impact of food price inflation on the affordability of food for many people worldwide. Many struggle to afford certain, especially healthier and higher-quality, foods due to rising food prices. Food inflation in low-income countries has reached as high as 30%, substantially outpacing the global average and worsening access to adequate diets.
It is evident that rising food prices in low-income countries exacerbate existing vulnerabilities caused by poverty, fragile food systems, and socio-political factors, leading to increased food insecurity and hunger. The report underscores the need for urgent action to address these issues and achieve nutrition and development goals.
- To combat the escalating food insecurity and malnutrition, it's crucial to address rising food prices, particularly in low-income countries where people struggle to afford basic nutritious food, even in the face of increased reliance on market-purchased food and gender and income inequalities.
- The World Food Report, presented in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, underscores the disproportionate impact of food price inflation on poorer households, causing a significant rise in food insecurity, especially in low-income countries with poor access to quality food, healthier options, and other necessities like science, health-and-wellness, lifestyle, and radio coverage.
