Hunger in the Face of Crisis Implications of the global economic slowdown on world food security Economic and Social Development Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, October 2009

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

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

Trends in world hunger Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009)

Where do the hungry live? Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009)

The FAO Hunger Map Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009)

Reasons for the increase of hunger The global economic slowdown The 2006-2008 food price crisis Non-food uses of agricultural production Insufficient investment in agriculture The increase is not a result of poor crop harvest

The global economic slowdown

The 2006-2008 food price crisis

Non-food uses of agricultural production

Insufficient investment in agriculture

The increase is not a result of poor crop harvest

Food prices in developing countries remain high Source: Food Outlook, FAO (2009) Wheat prices in selected countries

Global economic crisis hits developing countries Higher unemployment Lower financial transfers from migrants Reduced development aid Less foreign direct investment Reduced export opportunities Few policy options due to global nature of crisis: e.g. no currency devaluation or external borrowing

Higher unemployment

Lower financial transfers from migrants

Reduced development aid

Less foreign direct investment

Reduced export opportunities

Few policy options due to global nature of crisis: e.g. no currency devaluation or external borrowing

Development assistance to agriculture is declining Source: Creditor Reporting System, OECD (2009)

For more information Please visit: www.fao.org/economic/es-policybriefs