Hunger in the world does not stop growing. This is evidenced by the last study published by FAO along with other collaborating organizations. The study that bears the name "Urbanization, transformation of agri-food systems and healthy diets in the rural-urban continuum" makes it clear that we are losing the fight against hunger. Thus, it is far from achieving the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, which had the challenge of achieving zero hunger in the year 2030.
Although there were slight improvements in the fight against hunger, Covid-19 has made hunger in the world much worse. Also some geostrategic problems, the drought and the war in the Ukraine have led to a really poor situation. In this way, we have increased from 2019 to 2022 by 122 million people suffering from hunger in the world, reaching 735 million people in total.
Hunger in the world does not stop
Africa continues to be the continent with the most hunger problems. Problems also continue to increase in Western Asia and the Caribbean area. Latin America and some parts of Asia improve slightly.
Everything indicates that the objectives will not be achieved and experts indicate that by 2030 we could have some 600 million people in the world who will go hungry. Another big problem for millions of people is getting food on a regular basis. This problem is suffered by 2400 billion people who have a deficient diet and 900 million of them with serious food security problems. As for child hunger, the numbers continue to be frankly bad, with child growth and development problems in 150 million children under five years of age.
In addition to all this, 42% of the entire world population, that is, 3100 billion people, cannot afford a healthy diet. These data have worsened since Covid-19 in 139 million people. Thus there are 45 million children with extreme thinness and more than 37 million children with childhood obesity problems. Everything indicates that there is a risk of increasing childhood obesity due to the use of ultra-processed foods and meals outside the home.
From the countryside to the city
Due to the continuous and large migration from the countryside to the city, which is estimated to reach 70% of the population living in cities by 2030, the study addresses how it can affect nutrition. According to the study, there is more food security in urban environments.
The report challenges institutions to make investments so that there is better communication between these two environments, rural and urban, to guarantee more and better food.
