(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The United Nations has the goal of a world without hunger and malnutrition by 2030. With the number of people suffering from hunger in 2016 rising at the fastest pace since at least the beginning of this century, the deadline looks challenging.
Those categorised as hungry rose by about 38mn to 815mn in 2016, accounting for 11% of the global population, according to a recent UN report. While food security has worsened in some peaceful places amid economic slowdowns, 13% of adults are suffering from obesity.
More than half of those hungry live in areas affected by violent conflicts that have destroyed local agriculture and limited access to food supplies, with African nations being among the worst hit. Famine was declared in early 2017 in South Sudan, while Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen suffered more food shortages.
'Deteriorations have been observed most notably in situations of conflict, often compounded by droughts or floods, linked in part to the El Nino phenomenon, the Food and Agriculture Organisation said last month.
Amid a number of stark reminders about the urgency to deal with global food security, the FAO offers a ray of hope. The situation is likely to get better this year with an improving economy, fading odds of El Nino and progress made in conflict areas.
There is a flip side, too. The growing demand from urban food markets, which consume as much as 70% of food supplies, could benefit the rural agriculture industry, the FAO said. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, the value of urban food markets is projected to more than triple to $500bn in 20 years through 2030.
Under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, world leaders have pledged to try to eradicate hunger and malnutrition by 2030. But here are some disturbing facts: The number of undernourished people around the world rose to the highest since 2008 last year; one-fifth of those in Africa and 12% in Asia are hungry; 155mn children under five are too short for their age and 52mn children aren't heavy enough for their height.
Global commodities markets have seen huge inflows of investment fund money since the financial crisis, looking for better returns. With automated trading systems meticulously looking to exploit tiny flaws in the market and encourage volatility, food prices have rebounded even amid a global glut of grains.
For sure, global food security has to do a lot with reducing wastage. In the Gulf, between a third and half of the food produced is estimated to go to waste. Globally, annual food losses and waste amounts to roughly $680bn in industrialised countries and $310bn in developing countries, according to the FAO.
The food divide is widening. An estimated one-third of global food production, around 1.3bn tonnes, is wasted every year. At the same time, one in every seven people in the world goes to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of 5 die daily from hunger.
Hunger is a biting reality and societies tend to unravel when people are starving.
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