The World Bank recently released a Food Security Update, reporting fluctuations in agricultural and export price indices. The report highlights concerns about achieving food- and agriculture-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reveals that 238 million people in 48 countries face acute food insecurity.
The Food Insecurity Update, released on September 28, indicates a 1 percent decrease in agricultural and a 2 percent drop in export price indices compared to two weeks prior. Conversely, the cereal price index rose by 2 percent, mainly due to higher rice and wheat prices. Persistent domestic food price inflation impacts various countries, with over 86 percent of lower-middle-income nations, 64 percent of upper-middle-income nations, and more than half of low-income nations experiencing inflation rates exceeding 5 percent, often reaching double digits. These pressures are most pronounced in regions spanning Africa, North America, Latin America, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia, according to the update
The midpoint assessment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development raises concerns about SDGs. According to the update, multiple crises, including COVID-19, climate change, and conflicts, threaten progress in poverty reduction, food security, nutrition, and health. Hunger has resurged, affecting between 691 million and 783 million people in 2022, erasing previous gains. Food insecurity also rose from 25.3 percent in 2019 to 29.6 percent in 2022, with 11.3 percent facing severe food insecurity. Despite some improvements, global malnutrition targets are far from met. Gender disparities persist, with 27.8 percent of women and 25.4 percent of men experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity in 2022.
The new Global Report on Food Crises 2023 Mid-Year Update reveals that 238 million individuals across 48 countries are currently confronting acute food and nutrition insecurity. This marks an increase of 22 million people compared to 2022, although some of this rise can be attributed to enhanced analysis coverage. The total global count of acutely food-insecure individuals is anticipated to continue rising each year, according to the update.