Working together to ensure food security

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) points out the paradox that hunger continues despite sufficient food production to meet the needs of more than the world’s population. Extreme weather events, persistent conflicts and economic shocks remain the main causes of and exacerbate food crises. This requires joint efforts to ensure global food security.

According to the FAO, about 733 million people faced hunger in 2023. Conflicts affect about 135 million people, with nearly half suffering from extreme hunger. A recent assessment by FAO and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) found that cropland and agricultural infrastructure in the Gaza Strip have suffered unprecedented damage. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol said humanitarian aid efforts remain limited and cannot meet the needs of two million people here. Bechdol is concerned that these are adding to the burden of the humanitarian crisis here, especially when the conflict shows no signs of stopping.

Due to the impact of climate change, extreme weather events are occurring more frequently, severely affecting the agricultural sector of many countries, reducing the area of cultivated land and causing crop failures. In addition to escalating food prices due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences of conflicts on the food system threaten food security. Severely affected by the above shocks are vulnerable groups, including the poor and farmers.

Despite many challenges, unsustainable food systems are causing pollution, land and water degradation, increased greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. Therefore, many countries are promoting the transformation of food systems towards more sustainability to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change, limit negative impacts on the environment, ensure food and nutrition security, and support people’s livelihoods.

Science, technology and innovation, such as biotechnology, digital transformation of the agricultural sector, etc., are considered by experts to be important drivers for this process.

Along with food security, ensuring nutrition is also an issue of increasing importance. According to the report on the state of food security and nutrition in the world in 2024 conducted by United Nations agencies, more than 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. This is the main cause of malnutrition and obesity. Many people lack the necessary information to choose a healthy diet and are forced to use cheap, nutritionally deficient foods or choose these foods simply because of convenience.

In his message on World Food Day (October 16) this year, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu called on the international community to reaffirm its commitment to building more efficient, resilient and sustainable food systems, ensuring everyone’s needs for healthy and diverse foods.

This is also reflected in this year’s World Food Day theme, “The Right to Food for a Better Life and Future”. According to Qu Dongyu, a better life increasingly requires more diverse food. Qu Dongyu commented that foods from different origins help ensure the richness of cuisines and cultures while contributing to efforts to protect biodiversity.

This year’s World Food Day highlights the importance of ensuring food security for everyone, everywhere. With just a few years to go before the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), food insecurity remains a concern. Stressing that time is running out, FAO is calling for action from all partners in all sectors. Urgent action now is needed for a future where basic human needs are met, and the commitment to leaving no one behind becomes a reality.

NDO