Hunger in the Face of Crisis Implications of the global economic slowdown on food security in the world 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 : exists when the caloric intake is below the minimum dietary energy requirement needed for light activity and a minimum acceptable weight for attained height. Hunger Targets : are outlined in two main agreements – the World Food Summit Target of 1996 and the 2000 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 : exists when the caloric intake is below the minimum dietary energy requirement needed for light activity and a minimum acceptable weight for attained height.

Hunger Targets : are outlined in two main agreements – the World Food Summit Target of 1996 and the 2000 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)

Primary victims of hunger Rural landless and urban poor: no subsistence farming Female-headed households: limited time availability for paid employment Rural poor: pressure on local labour market due to return migration from cities

Rural landless and urban poor: no subsistence farming

Female-headed households: limited time availability for paid employment

Rural poor: pressure on local labour market due to return migration from cities

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

The 2006-2008 food price crisis

The global economic slowdown

New 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. currency devaluation and 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. currency devaluation and borrowing

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

Future challenges and perspectives

Global challenges Population growth, especially in cities Limited land resources available Water shortages in some areas Climate change Energy needs: e.g. biofuels ...

Population growth, especially in cities

Limited land resources available

Water shortages in some areas

Climate change

Energy needs: e.g. biofuels

...

How much more needs to be produced in 2050? Source: FAO (2009) 255 97 63 23 148 70 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 past future past future past future Developing Developed World Agricultural production

Is this possible? Global scenarios are optimistic, if: Investments increase in Research & Development New technologies allow yields increases Negative effects of climate change are mitigated Smallholders are not left behind Food security governance improves

Global scenarios are optimistic, if:

Investments increase in Research & Development

New technologies allow yields increases

Negative effects of climate change are mitigated

Smallholders are not left behind

Food security governance improves

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