Introduction

The report outlines how food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition remain widespread, with close to one-third of the global population experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity. It adopts FAO definitions, distinguishing between food security, hunger, and malnutrition. Around 2.3 billion people face reduced food quantity or quality, and nearly 1 billion experience severe food insecurity. Malnutrition affects approximately 770 million people, contributing to stunting, wasting, and low birthweight. The issue disproportionately affects women, children, the elderly, and populations in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where 70–85% of people cannot afford a healthy diet.

Defining food insecurity

Food security exists when all people have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. Hunger relates to insufficient dietary energy intake, while malnutrition encompasses undernutrition, overweight, and obesity. The report emphasises that food insecurity concerns not only access to calories but also affordability, nutritional quality, and stability over time.

What causes food insecurity?

Drivers include environmental factors, conflict, and political, social, or economic shifts. Historical examples such as China’s Great Leap Forward and the fall of the Soviet Union illustrate how structural changes can disrupt food systems. These drivers operate alongside population growth that outpaces food system resilience, despite cereal production historically tracking population increases.

The extent of food insecurity

Since 2014, moderate or severe food insecurity has increased significantly, with an additional 342 million people affected between 2019 and 2020. Severe food insecurity rose to 923.7 million people in 2021, a 64% increase since 2014. Over 3 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2020. Gender disparities persist, with 31.9% of women affected compared to 27.6% of men. Regional disparities are notable, with the majority of global population growth expected in regions already facing the greatest shortages.

Hunger (undernourishment)

FAO projections indicate that 670 million people may remain undernourished by 2030, essentially unchanged from 2015 levels despite the launch of the UN SDG agenda. Under a scenario without COVID-19, 78 million fewer people would be undernourished.

Malnutrition

Malnutrition remains widespread, with significant impacts on child development and long-term health outcomes. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies reinforces the need for interventions focused on food quality, not only quantity.

Acute food insecurity

In 2021, nearly 200 million people across 53 countries faced Crisis levels or worse (IPC Phase 3+). Over 1 million people in eight countries were in Emergency (Phase 4), and more than 500,000 individuals experienced Catastrophe/Famine (Phase 5). Crisis levels have nearly doubled since 2016.

The current “perfect storm” in food security

Recent increases stem from the Russia–Ukraine conflict, extreme weather events, inflation, higher energy costs, and supply chain disruptions. Rising debt levels complicate government responses, especially in low-income countries. Physical chokepoints in global food trade amplify vulnerabilities.

The future: the outlook for 2023 and beyond

Food prices may remain elevated if fertiliser costs stay high. Climate impacts, demographic pressures, and geopolitical uncertainty may exacerbate existing challenges.

The implications of global food insecurity

Economic impacts include employment losses, lower productivity, and global costs of malnutrition estimated at up to US$3.5 trillion annually. Higher food prices heighten risks of civil unrest and displacement, as seen during the 2011 Arab Spring. Government responses vary, but many face constraints linked to currency devaluation and indebtedness.

Solutions

Social solutions include improving social protection systems and promoting gender-sensitive interventions. Technological solutions involve AgTech innovations, crop-resilient seeds, and digital tools. Reducing food waste could ease supply pressures. Financial solutions include traditional financing, innovative approaches such as hedging and debt relief, and blended finance structures. Geopolitical solutions involve diplomacy, export policy co-ordination, and targeted international aid.

Conclusions and recommendations – who does what?

The report assigns roles to public, private, financial, and civil society sectors. It emphasises the need for integrated action to address short-term needs and build long-term food system resilience.