The world is in the midst of a global food crisis, with projections showing that as many as 670 million people will still face hunger by 2030.
This is the view of a newsletter published by the World Bank as part of its global food security campaign.
“Shocks from climate change, a global water crisis, loss of biodiversity, and other challenges continue to weaken food security and force more people into hunger,” the document says.
“And while the current approach of responding to food crises through short-term measures – coupled with resilience building efforts – makes a difference, it is not sufficient to fully address all underlying factors causing the crisis.
“It is critical to transform global food systems to that they are conducive to healthy and resilient people, planet and economies.”
The World Bank is taking a multi-pronged approach to these challenges, supporting production and producers, increasing trade in food and agriculture inputs, supporting vulnerable households, and investing in sustainable food and nutrition.
The objective is to help countries not only address food-related emergencies, but “create sustainable solutions so that the next emergency is avoided”.
The newsletter details small projects which are helping people and communities produce food in the Central African Republic, Madagascar and Jordan.
The World Bank also publishes a regular food security update.
The 2023 State of Food Insecurity and Nutrition in the World report from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) highlights the state of global hunger and food insecurity and the challenges and opportunities that urbanisation presents in the context of agrifood systems.
