Hunger in the world is increasing. Based on FAO’s 2009 flagship publication on “The State of Food Insecurity in the World”, this presentation discusses the implications of the global economic crisis for world food security. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Economic and Social Development Department
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic crisis: impacts
and lessons learned
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome, October 2009

2. 2
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
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

3. 3
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009). Value for 2009 is a projection.
Trends in world hunger

4. 4
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Where do the hungry live?
Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009).

5. 5
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
The FAO Hunger Map
Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009).

6. 6
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Reasons for the increase of hunger
 The 2006-2008 food price crisis
 The global economic slowdown
 Insufficient investment in agriculture
 The increase is not a result of poor
crop harvest

7. 7
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
The Food Price Crisis
Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009).
Percentagechange,2006-2008

8. 8
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Global crisis hits developing countries
 Higher unemployment
 Lower capital inflows (remittances, aid, FDI)
 Less export opportunities
 Few policy options due to global nature of
crisis: e.g. no currency devaluation or
external borrowing

9. 9
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Low investment in agriculture
Source: Creditor Reporting System, OECD (2009)

10. 10
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Coping mechanisms come at a cost
New economic
activities
 Increased participation in
economic activities
 Migration
 Reduced leisure; maternal
care may suffer
 Loss of community
cohesion; family break-ups
Consumption
smoothing
 Sale of assets
 Borrowing
 Reduction or loss of future
earning potential
Change in
consumption
patterns
 Shift from expensive,
more nutrient-rich foods
 Reduced expenditure on
health, education etc.
 Malnutrition
 Degradation of health status
and education
ACTIONS COSTS
Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO (2009).

11. 11
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Towards eliminating hunger
ending hunger
Track 1: strengthen
productivity and income
Track 2: provide direct
access to food
infrastructure
laws
policies
science &
technology
food aid
cash transfers
safety nets
access to seeds, fertilizers
and farming equipment

12. 12
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Towards eliminating hunger
ending hunger
Track 1: strengthen
productivity and income
Track 2: provide direct
access to food
infrastructure
laws
policies
science &
technology
food aid
cash transfers
safety nets
access to seeds, fertilizers
and farming equipment

13. 13
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Towards eliminating hunger
ending hunger
Track 1: strengthen
productivity and income
Track 2: provide direct
access to food
infrastructure
laws
policies
science &
technology
food aid
cash transfers
safety nets
access to seeds, fertilizers
and farming equipment

14. 14
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food Insecurity
in the World
The State of Food
Insecurity in the World
The international reference
on global hunger issues.
Available on FAO‘s website in English,
French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and
Chinese
www.fao.org/publications/sofi
For more information