Urgent action needed to rescue millions from the hunger trap

Amid multiple global crises such as climate change, pandemics, conflicts, growing inequalities and gender-based violence, more and more people are falling into the hunger trap.Compounding these challenges is the global economic slowdown that has put the development of nations at risk and caused a dramatic increase in hunger around the world.During the Covid-19 pandemic, a health crisis rapidly evolved into a food crisis, as the virus caused a shortage of farm workers and threatened to break down food supply chains.As many as 828mn people faced hunger in 2021, an increase of 150mn more people since 2019, before the outbreak of the pandemic. Most recent projections indicate that more than 670mn people could still not have enough to eat in 2030.It’s a far cry from the "zero hunger” target the world has ambitiously committed to less than a decade ago. It also shows just how deep inequalities run in societies across the world.An increase in consumer food prices has also affected the number of people who cannot access a healthy diet – now reaching 3.1bn.Child malnutrition continues to be a concern, including obesity and overweight; and women are still bearing the brunt of food insecurity, in even higher numbers since the pandemic.The need to make food security a reality was emphasised by parliamentarians from around the world who met at Valparaíso in Chile recently.The Second Global Parliamentary Summit against Hunger and Malnutrition was organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) with the support of other agencies.The summit called together over 150 parliamentarians to share their experiences implementing legislation on matters related to food and nutrition security, discuss needs and priorities to address the challenges associated with hunger and malnutrition, and evaluate co-operation opportunities.It agreed to promote formal voluntary commitments via networks of parliamentarians based on a Global Parliamentary Pact, which includes periodic monitoring and follow-up on legislative outcomes and achievements."You have an important role to play in the transformation of global agrifood systems, to make them more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable,’’ FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, told parliamentarians.The right to food became a legal obligation for countries to promote and protect as part of the economic, social and cultural rights in 1966 and included in UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.That fundamental right every one of us is entitled to — to be free from hunger — is at risk today like never before.There is enough food to feed everyone in the world today. What is lacking is the capacity to buy food that is available because of high levels of poverty and inequalities.The war in Ukraine has made things worse. It shocked the global energy market, which has caused food prices to surge even more. This year alone saw an increase of $25bn in food import bills of the world’s 62 most vulnerable countries, a 39% increase on 2020.Food is fundamental to life. And it is key to strengthening our global efforts to find lasting solutions to today’s challenges.