The second goal included in the Sustainable Development Goals aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. There are several reasons contributing to world hunger including famine, poverty and rising food prices, and food shortages as a result of war.
(above) Reliance on food banks rising rapidly
(above) Goal 2 charities like Fair Trade are improving the livelihood and accessibility to food for millions of people around the world
It was really shocking to investigate the current rates of world hunger in recent years. In 2020, the UN estimates that 2.5 billion people (nearly 30% of the global population) experienced food insecurity. Food insecurity refers to an individual have little to no access to adequate and regular nutrients required for a healthy lifestyle.
(above) Proportion of countries affected by high or moderately high food prices, 2019 and 2020 (percentage)
(above) Graph published by The Trussel Trust showing the dramatic rise of people relying on food source from local food banks between 2008 and 2022
A report conducted by Materials Recovery reported that at least 9 million tonnes of food waste is thrown away in U.K. in 2022. This is despite the BBC estimating that at least 2 million people will rely on food banks this year to feed their family. Materials Recovery support this claim - estimating that at least 8 million people in the U.K. experience food insecurity each year. Food insecurity comes as a result of 15% average increase in food prices including staple ingredients like milk, bread and vegetables. From the UN SDG infographic I learned that this trend is global: the rise of food prices has effected 47% of countries since 2020 - a rise from 16% in 2019.
Proportion of children under age 5 who are affected by stunting and wasting, 20201 (percentage)
The UN also highlighted the effect hunger has on children who are still developing physically and mentally. The data is alarming noting that 150 million children will experience stunted growth due to a lack of nutrients. The organisation also believe 3.1 million children will die each year as a result of hunger. It is also estimated due to a lack of nutrients and vitamins, children experiencing hunger will experience illness for at least 16 days of the year.
The UN set 8 targets for Goal 2 including: 2.1 Universal Access to Safe and Nutritious Food; 2.2 Ending all Forms of Malnutrition and 2.5 Maintaining the Genetic Diversity in Food Production. They have also provided different ways in which the government and public can achieve these targets including buying local and in-season food; preventing food waste and consuming less meat.
(Above) A group of women who trade the coffee beans they grow with Zawadi Coffee for fair rates
It was also interesting research current projects which might engaging to include in my final outcome. For example, the Fair Trade Foundation is a Goal 2 Charity which strives to combat food insecurity by providing low income farmers with consistent and fair income for their work. This includes companies like Zawadi Coffee: a Fair Trade supported Kenyan business which sources its coffee beans directly from local female farmers.