Navigating the nexus: Challenges to global food security and the 2030 agenda—An overview

Authors

  • Shoba Suri Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, Delhi 110002, India
Article ID: 105
157 Views, 125 PDF Downloads

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18686/fnc.v1i3.105

Keywords:

hunger; food security; climate change; 2030 agenda; sustainable development goals; stunting; wasting; overweight

Abstract

The world faces a complex nexus of interconnected issues, ranging from climate change and resource depletion to economic disparities and geopolitical tensions. These challenges pose formidable obstacles to ensuring access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for all. Examining the multifaceted landscape of global food security, this overview explores the intricate relationships between environmental sustainability, agricultural practices, and the socio-economic well-being of communities. About 924 million individuals (11.7% of the world’s population) face acute food insecurity—a rise of 207 million since the pandemic. There are several causes, including broken food supply networks, high unemployment rates, income loss, and growing food prices. By navigating the nexus of issues surrounding food security and aligning efforts with the 2030 Agenda, the international community can pave the way for a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable global food system.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. UN report: Global hunger numbers rose to as many as 828 million in 2021. Available online: https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/un-report-global-hunger-sofi-2022-fao/en#:~:text=Nearly%20924%20million%20people%20(11.7,207%20million%20in%20two%20years (accessed on 25 December 2023).

United Nations. Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Available online: https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda (accessed on 25 December 2023).

World Health Orgnization. Global NCD target halt the rise in obesity. Available online: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/312281/WHO-NMH-NMA-16.192-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2023: Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum Available online: https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc3017en (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Global Nutrition Report. 2022 global nutrition report. Available online: https://globalnutritionreport.org/reports/2022-global-nutrition-report/ (accessed on 25 December 2023).

von Grebmer K, Bernstein J, Wiemers M, et al. In: Fritschel H (editor). 2023 Global Hunger Index: The Power of Youth in Shaping Food Systems. Welthungerhilfe; 2023.

UNICEF, WHO, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, The World Bank. Levels and TRENDS IN CHILD MALNUTRition: UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Group Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates: Key Findings of the 2023 Edition. UNICEF and WHO; 2023.

Quamme SH, Iversen PO. Prevalence of child stunting in Sub-Saharan Africa and its risk factors. Clinical Nutrition Open Science 2022; 42: 49–61. doi: 10.1016/j.nutos.2022.01.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutos.2022.01.009

UNICEF. Stop stunting: Power of maternal nutrition. Available online: https://www.unicef.org/rosa/reports/stop-stunting (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Khanum ML. The silent issue of rising malnutrition in the Indian subcontinent. Available online: https://spheresofinfluence.ca/rising-malnutrition-in-the-indian-subcontinent/ (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Krishna A, Mejía‐Guevara I, McGovern M, et al. Trends in inequalities in child stunting in South Asia. Maternal & Child Nutrition 2017; 14(S4). doi: 10.1111/mcn.12517 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12517

Smith LC, Haddad L. Reducing child undernutrition: Past drivers and priorities for the post-MDG era. World Development 2015; 68: 180–204. doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.11.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.11.014

UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Group. Levels and trends in child malnutrition. Available online: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/368038/9789240073791-eng.pdf?sequence=1 (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Li Z, Kim R, Vollmer S, et al. Factors associated with child stunting, wasting, and underweight in 35 low- and middle-income countries. JAMA Network Open 2020; 3(4): e203386. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.3386 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.3386

Harding KL, Aguayo VM, Webb P. Factors associated with wasting among children under five years old in South Asia: Implications for action. PLoS One 2018; 13(7): e0198749. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198749 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198749

Torlesse H, Le MT. South Asia and child wasting—Unravelling the conundrum. Available online: https://www.ennonline.net/fex/63/southasiachildwasting (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Mertens A, Benjamin-Chung J, Colford JM, et al. Child wasting and concurrent stunting in low- and middle-income countries. Nature 2023; 621: 558–567. doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06480-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06480-z

Headey D, Heidkamp R, Osendarp S, et al. Impacts of COVID-19 on childhood malnutrition and nutrition-related mortality. The Lancet 2020; 396(10250): 519–521. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(20)31647-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31647-0

Saha J, Chouhan P, Ahmed F, et al. Overweight/obesity prevalence among under-five children and risk factors in India: A cross-sectional study using the national family health survey (2015–2016). Nutrients 2022; 14(17): 3621. doi: 10.3390/nu14173621 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14173621

FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, et al. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023: Urbanization, Agrifood Systems Transformation and Healthy Diets across the Rural-Urban Continuum. FAO; 2023. 316p. doi: 10.4060/cc3017en DOI: https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3017en

World Health Organization. Global nutrition targets 2025: Low birth weight policy brief. Available online: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/149020/WHO_NMH_NHD_14.5_eng.pdf?sequence=2 (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Larroque B, Bertrais S, Czernichow P, et al. School difficulties in 20-year-olds who were born small for gestational age at term in a regional cohort study. Pediatrics 2001; 108(1): 111–115. doi: 10.1542/peds.108.1.111 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.108.1.111

Risnes KR, Vatten LJ, Baker JL, et al. Birthweight and mortality in adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Epidemiology 2011; 40(3): 647–661. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyq267 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyq267

UNICEF. Saving lives and giving newborns the best start: Critical nutrition interventions for mothers and infants in the perinatal period. Available online: https://www.healthynewbornnetwork.org/hnn-content/uploads/Saving-lives-and-giving-newborns-the-best-start.pdf (accessed on 25 December 2023).

WHO. Global nutrition target 2025: Poloct brief series. Available online: https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/665585/retrieve (accessed on 25 December 2023).

WHO. Obesity and over weight. Available online: https://www.who. int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight#:~:text=Of%20these%20 (accessed on 25 December 2023).

WHO. World obesity day 2022—Accelerating action to stop obesity. Available online: https://www.who.int/news/item/04-03-2022-world-obesity-day-2022-accelerating-action-to-stop-obesity (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Hassapidou M, Vlassopoulos A, Kalliostra M, et al. European association for the study of obesity position statement on medical nutrition therapy for the management of overweight and obesity in adults developed in collaboration with the European federation of the associations of dietitians. Obesity Facts 2023; 16(1): 11–28. doi: 10.1159/000528083 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000528083

Scully T, Ettela A, LeRoith D, Gallagher EJ. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer risk. Frontiers in Oncology 2021; 10: 615375. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.615375 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.615375

Fore HH, Dongyu Q, Beasley DM, et al. Child malnutrition and COVID-19: The time to act is now. The Lancet 2020; 396(10250): 517–518. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(20)31648-2

Laborde D, Martin W. Poverty and food insecurity could grow dramatically as COVID-19 spreads. International Food Policy Research Institute 2020. doi: 10.2499/p15738coll2.133762_02 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.133762_02

Fore HH, Qu D, Beasley DM, Ghebreyesus TA. Child malnutrition and COVID-19: The time to act is now. The Lancet 2020; 396(10250): 517–518. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31648-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31648-2

Glauber JW, Laborde Debucquet D. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and global food security. International Food Policy Research Institute 2023. doi: 10.2499/9780896294394 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896294394

Popkin BM. Nutrition, agriculture and the global food system in low and middle income countries. Food Policy 2014; 47: 91–96. doi: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2014.05.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2014.05.001

FAO. The impact of disasters and crises on agriculture and food security: 2021. Available online: https://www.fao.org/3/cb3673en/cb3673en.pdf (accessed on 25 December 2023).

The World Bank. The locust crisis: The World Bank’s response. Available online: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/factsheet/2020/04/27/the-locust-crisis-the-world-banks-response (accessed on 25 December 2023).

FAO. 2021: The impact of disasters and crises on agriculture and food security. Available online: https://www.fao.org/3/cb3673en/cb3673en.pdf (accessed on 25 December 2023).

World Food Summit. Rome declaration on world food security. Available online: http://www.fao.org/3/w3613e/w3613e00.htm (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Global Nutrition Report. 2020 global nutrition report. Available online: https://globalnutritionreport.org/reports/2020-global-nutrition-report/ (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Pate MA, Nieuwkoop MV. How nutrition can protect people’s health during COVID-19. Available online: https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/how-nutrition-can-protect-peoples-health-during-COVID-19 (accessed on 25 December 2023).

McAuliffe S, Ray S, Fallon E, et al. Dietary micronutrients in the wake of COVID-19: An appraisal of evidence with a focus on high-risk groups and preventative healthcare. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health 2020; 3(1): 93–99. doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000100 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000100

Lin F, Li X, Jia N, et al. The impact of Russia-Ukraine conflict on global food security. Global Food Security 2023; 36: 100661. doi: 10.1016/j.gfs.2022.100661 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2022.100661

Clapp J, Moseley WG. This food crisis is different: COVID-19 and the fragility of the neoliberal food security order. The Journal of Peasant Studies 2020; 47(7): 1393–1417. doi: 10.1080/03066150.2020.1823838 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2020.1823838

World Food Programme. 2019—The state of food security and nutrition in the world (SOFI): Safeguarding against economic slowdowns and downturns Available online: https://www.wfp.org/publications/2019-state-food-security-and-nutrition-world-sofi-safeguarding-against-economic (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Haley E, Caxaj S, George G, et al. Migrant farmworkers face heightened vulnerabilities during COVID-19. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development 2020; 9(3): 35–39. doi: 10.5304/jafscd.2020.093.016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2020.093.016

Richter F. Why the war in Ukraine threatens global food security. Available online: https://www.statista.com/chart/27225/russian-and-ukrainian-share-of-global-crop-exports/ (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Ashford NA, Hall RP, Arango-Quiroga J, et al. Addressing inequality: The first step beyond COVID-19 and towards sustainability. Sustainability 2020; 12(13): 5404. doi: 10.3390/su12135404 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135404

Klassen S, Murphy S. Equity as both a means and an end: Lessons for resilient food systems from COVID-19. World Development 2020; 136: 105104. doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105104 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105104

World Health Organization. 1 in 3 people globally do not have access to safe drinking water—UNICEF, WHO. Available online: https://www.who.int/news/item/18-06-2019-1-in-3-people-globally-do-not-have-access-to-safe-drinking-water-unicef-who (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Ekumah B, Armah FA, Yawson DO, et al. Disparate on-site access to water, sanitation, and food storage heighten the risk of COVID-19 spread in Sub-Saharan Africa. Environmental Research 2020; 189: 109936. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109936 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109936

Power K. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the care burden of women and families. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy 2020; 16(1): 67–73. doi: 10.1080/15487733.2020.1776561 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2020.1776561

McLaren HJ, Wong KR, Nguyen KN, et al. COVID-19 and women’s triple burden: Vignettes from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam and Australia. Social Sciences 2020; 9(5): 87. doi: 10.3390/socsci9050087 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci9050087

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Gendered impacts of COVID-19 and equitable policy responses in agriculture, food security and nutrition. Available online: http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ ca9198en (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Schaner S, Moore CT. Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Digital Cash Transfers: Analysis of the Digitize/Direct/Design Criteria Applied to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Bihar, India. Harvard Kennedy School; 2019.

IDEATE. Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Digital Cash Transfers: What Do We Learn from the Digitize/Direct/Design (D3) Criteria in the Case of Benazir Income Support Program in Pakistan? KARANDAAZ; 2018.

Myamba F, Pulver C. Enhancing women’s economic empowerment through digital cash transfers: Digitize/direct/design (D3) Criteria—An Application. Available online: https://www.findevgateway.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/_d3_final_report_tanzania.pdf (accessed on 25 December 2023).

World Food Programme. Global monitoring of school meals during COVID-19 closures. Available online: https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/ (accessed on 25 December 2023).

Glauber J, Laborde Debucquet D, Martin W, et al. COVID-19: Trade restrictions are worst possible response to safeguard food security. International Food Policy Research Institute 2020. doi: 10.2499/p15738coll2.133762_14 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.133762_14

Bracale R, Vaccaro CM. Changes in food choice following restrictive measures due to COVID-19. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases 2020; 30(9): 1423–1426. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.05.027 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2020.05.027

Worstell J. Ecological resilience of food systems in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development 2020; 9(3), 23–30. doi: 10.5304/jafscd.2020.093.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2020.093.015

Lal R. Home gardening and urban agriculture for advancing food and nutritional security in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Food Security 2020; 12(4): 871–876. doi: 10.1007/s12571-020-01058-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-020-01058-3

FAO. Food Outlook—Biannual Report on Global Food Markets. FAO; 2020. 169p. doi: 10.4060/ca9509en DOI: https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9509en

Progress on global nutrition targets.

Downloads

Published

2023-12-30

How to Cite

Suri, S. (2023). Navigating the nexus: Challenges to global food security and the 2030 agenda—An overview. Food Nutrition Chemistry, 1(3), 105. https://doi.org/10.18686/fnc.v1i3.105

Issue

Section

Review