Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic crisis: impacts
and lessons learned
The State of
The State of
Food Insecurity
Food Insecurity
in the World
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome, October 2009
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
Some basic terms and definitions
 Food Security: exists when all people, at all
times, have physical, social and economic
access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food
 Undernourishment: describes the status of
persons, whose food intake regularly provides
less than their minimum energy requirements
 Hunger Targets: are outlined in two main
agreements – the World Food Summit Target
and the Millennium Development Goals
The State of
The State of
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
2
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
Trends in world hunger
The State of
The State of
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009). Value for 2009 is a projection.
3
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
Where do the hungry live?
The State of
The State of
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009).
4
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
The FAO Hunger Map
The State of
The State of
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009).
5
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
Reasons for the increase of hunger
 The 2006-2008 food price crisis
 The global economic slowdown
 Insufficient investment in agriculture
 The increase is not a result of poor
crop harvest
The State of
The State of
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
6
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
Percentage change, 2006-2008
The Food Price Crisis
The State of
The State of
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009).
7
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
Global crisis hits developing countries
 Higher unemployment
 Lower capital inflows (remittances, aid, FDI)
 Less export opportunities
 Few policy options due to global nature of
crisis: e.g. no currency devaluation or
external borrowing
The State of
The State of
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
8
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
Low investment in agriculture
The State of
The State of
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
Source: Creditor Reporting System, OECD (2009)
9
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
Coping mechanisms come at a cost
ACTIONS
COSTS
New economic
activities
 Increased participation in
economic activities
 Migration
 Reduced leisure; maternal
care may suffer
 Loss of community
cohesion; family break-ups
Consumption
smoothing
 Sale of assets
 Borrowing
 Reduction or loss of future
earning potential
Change in
consumption
patterns
 Shift from expensive,
more nutrient-rich foods
 Reduced expenditure on
health, education etc.
 Malnutrition
 Degradation of health status
and education
The State of
The State of
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009).
10
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
Towards eliminating hunger
Track 1: strengthen
productivity and income
infrastructure
Track 2: provide direct
access to food
food aid
cash transfers
laws
The State of
The State of
policies
safety nets
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
access to seeds, fertilizers
and farming equipment
science &
technology
ending hunger
11
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
Towards eliminating hunger
Track 1: strengthen
productivity and income
infrastructure
Track 2: provide direct
access to food
food aid
cash transfers
laws
The State of
The State of
policies
safety nets
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
access to seeds, fertilizers
and farming equipment
science &
technology
ending hunger
12
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
Towards eliminating hunger
Track 1: strengthen
productivity and income
infrastructure
Track 2: provide direct
access to food
food aid
cash transfers
laws
The State of
The State of
policies
safety nets
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
access to seeds, fertilizers
and farming equipment
science &
technology
ending hunger
13
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Economic and Social Development Department
For more information
The State of Food
Insecurity in the World
The international reference
on global hunger issues.
Available on FAO‘s website in English,
French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and
Chinese
The State of
The State of
Food
Food Insecurity
Insecurity
in
in the
the World
World
www.fao.org/publications/sofi
14