For decades, the world witnessed a steady decline in hunger, thanks to advancements in food production and distribution. However, this positive trend is now reversing. In 2021 alone, approximately 828 million people faced hunger globally, marking an increase of 46 million from the previous year and a staggering 150 million since 2019.
Shockingly, this crisis isn't confined to low-income countries. Wealthier nations like the United Kingdom, Brazil, and South Africa are grappling with their own battles against food insecurity. In the UK, the situation is dire: by September 2022, about one in seven people experienced food poverty, leading to the operation of over 2,000 food banks—up from fewer than 100 a decade ago.
Brazil, once a beacon of progress with declining poverty and food insecurity rates in the early 2010s, has seen these gains erode. The economic downturn that began in 2014, compounded by political instability and the COVID-19 pandemic, has left more than half of the Brazilian population—125 million people—facing some degree of food insecurity. Of these, 33 million are living in hunger, with marginalized communities bearing the brunt.
South Africa mirrors this troubling trend. Despite constitutional guarantees of adequate nutrition, nearly 45% of its population experienced moderate or extreme food insecurity between 2018 and 2020. This figure is double that of Brazil during the same period, highlighting deep-rooted historical challenges and systemic inequalities.
What’s most perplexing is that humanity produces more than enough food to feed everyone on the planet. So, where is the breakdown occurring? The answer lies in inequitable food systems, economic disparities, and inadequate policy responses that fail to address the underlying causes of hunger. To reverse this crisis, a coordinated global effort is essential—one that ensures fair distribution, supports vulnerable communities, and builds resilient food systems for the future.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
