In some parts of the world a lot of people still go hungry, especially in South Asia, South-East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where almost one person in four suffers hunger or malnutrition. The root causes are often armed hostilities and extreme natural events, but structural poverty also plays a part.
In spite of all the progress made over recent years, we have still not managed to end hunger everywhere in the world. Today, almost 800 million people will go hungry worldwide. Because the world’s population is continuing to grow, especially in developing countries, experts forecast that agriculture will have to produce 60 per cent more food by 2050 in order to feed the world.
What must be done?
Hunger and malnutrition around the world cannot be eradicated with food aid alone. It is paramount that food be produced more effectively, more efficiently and more sustainably and that everybody has access to this food. To achieve this, small farmers for instance should receive support to help them increase yields, so that they can feed themselves and supply others with food. Research and technologies are needed that poor countries too can access. And the quality of soil, water and other natural resources must be preserved in the long term, partly also to better protect agriculture from the impact of extreme weather events.
Facts and figures
- Since the year 2000 global hunger has dropped by 27 per cent.
- One quarter of all children under the age of five are undernourished or suffer growth disorders. Every day about 8,500 children die as a result of hunger and malnutrition, which are responsible for one in two child deaths worldwide.
- 75 per cent of all those who go hungry live in rural areas. Most small farmers are women who grow the food their families eat.
