EcoFoodSystems Research Project

State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World: Key Findings for EcoFoodSystems project from FAO’s 2024 Report 

Dawit Chekol, Ciara Varley, Anna Lorente Sebastian, Charles Spillane 

EcoFoodSystems researchers attend the ‘State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024: Special Event on Financing to End Hunger, Food Insecurity and Malnutrition in All its Forms’ webinar from the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)

On 15 July 2024, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and partners unveiled the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 (SOFI) report at a Special Event focused on financing solutions to end hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition.  

EcoFoodSystems researcher Dawit Chekol attended the digital launch of the report. The webinar hosted a number of panel speakers including Dr. Qu Dongyu, FAO Director-General; Mr. Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); Catherine Russell, Executive Director of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF); Ms. Cindy Hensley McCain, Executive Director of World Food Programme (WFP); Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); Mr. Maximo Torero Cullen, FAO Chief Economist, and Wellington Dias, Brazil’s Minister for Development. 

Held alongside the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the launch event emphasized the critical financing gaps and innovative solutions needed to transform agri-food systems and meet SDG Targets 2.1 and 2.2. The full report was officially launched on 24 July in Rio de Janeiro, presenting updated UN data on global hunger and malnutrition, with contributions from FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. 

Financing is critically needed to tackle the global challenges of hunger and malnutrition 

The SOFI 2024 report delivers two key messages:  

  1. The global crises of hunger and malnutrition persist, causing Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) targets to remain off track. According to the report, projections indicate that 582 million people will be chronically undernourished by 2030, half of which live in Africa. 
  1. Adequate financing for zero hunger is crucial for addressing this crisis. Despite efforts, the SOFI report notes that only one-third of low- and middle-income countries have sufficient funding options for food and nutrition. The report calls for a multi-pronged financing approach, including concessional finance, investments, budget support, and debt relief and global financial reforms, to better support developing countries in achieving zero hunger goals at national level. 

Although a number of challenges exist to tackle global food insecurity, the report outlines encouraging progress in key areas related to health and nutrition. South America and Southeast Asia have shown positive trends, with hunger decreasing for two consecutive years. The report indicates that in South America, 5.4 million fewer people faced hunger in 2023 compared to previous years, while moderate to severe food insecurity decreased by 33 million people over two years. Southeast Asia also saw improvements, with 44 million more people able to afford health insurance in 2022 compared to 2021, alongside advancements in exclusive breastfeeding and reductions in child stunting and wasting. 

Despite positive progress in some parts of the world, many countries continue to struggle with issues related to food insecurity and nutrition. Africa faces worsening hunger, with over 20% of its population experiencing hunger and 58% facing moderate or severe food insecurity – nearly double the global average. The report underscores the urgent need for transformative change in global agri-food systems to address major drivers of food insecurity, such as conflict, climate crises, and economic downturns. 

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, who recently signed an Letter of Intent on behalf of the FAO with EcoFoodSystems project lead, University of Galway, highlighted the grim state of global food security and nutrition as revealed in the 2024 SOFI report. Director-General Dongyu stated that hunger and food insecurity have remained alarmingly high for three consecutive years. In 2023, over 730 million people faced hunger, and 2.3 billion experienced moderate to severe food insecurity. Without transformative changes, projections suggest that 580 million people will still be hungry by 2030. Furthermore, global nutrition targets are not on track, and rising obesity rates present significant chronic disease health challenges for all countries. 

The report also highlights significant funding gaps, estimating that the required investment for transforming agri-food systems could reach several trillion dollars per annum. Countries most affected by food insecurity often have the least access to financing, exacerbating inequalities. To tackle these issues, the report calls for enhanced coordination and targeting of financing, increased risk tolerance and de-risking measures, and more robust blended financing and public-private partnerships. 

Key takeaways from the 2024 SOFI report for EcoFoodSystems city regional stakeholders 

  • Food insecurity is not limited to rural areas; it affects both rural and urban zones. As detailed in Section 2.1 of this report, while food insecurity is highest in rural regions, it remains a significant issue in peri-urban and urban areas as well. In 2023, 31.9% of people in rural areas experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. This compares to 29.9% in peri-urban areas and 25.5% in urban areas. A closer look at the rural-urban continuum reveals that food insecurity can be more severe in urban and peri-urban zones. Therefore, financing for food security and nutrition must address all aspects and determinants of food security across the rural-urban continuum. 
  • Agri-food Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are crucial for rural economies and to urban food supply chains but face financial barriers that limit their growth and efficiency. Financing and investments are vital for achieving sustainable development goals in rural and urban areas.  
  • Urban Agri-food SMEs also need better access to affordable financing to grow and innovate. Financial instability and insufficient financial literacy among SME owners exacerbate supply chain vulnerabilities, necessitating tailored financial instruments, risk management tools, and training programs. 
  • Interventions across Agri-food supply chains can help lower the cost of nutritious foods and increase access. Key strategies include nutrition-sensitive agriculture, reducing food loss and waste, improving food handling and processing, promoting urban agriculture, and fortifying and subsidizing nutritious foods. 

The SOFI 2024 report underscores that focusing on both the quantity and quality of investments is essential to making significant progress toward ending hunger and achieving SDG 2. 

You can read the full report The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World on the FAO’s website. If you would like to learn more about food insecurity, the FAO have created an interactive webpage Understanding Food Insecurity.  

If you are curious about ways to tackle food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition, explore the EcoFoodSystems research and innovation project website to explore our ongoing research and innovation activities to support transitions to more healthy, sustainable and affordable urban diets.