As many as 842 million people remain “chronically undernourished”, according to new figures released to mark the annual World Food Day held on Wednesday.
The data also shows that in addition, there are two billion people who lack the vitamins and minerals needed to live healthy lives. Poor nutrition also means about 1.4 billion people are overweight, with about one-third obese and at risk of health problems like coronary heart disease and diabetes.
Rice terraces in China. PICTURE: javarman3/www.istockphoto.com
The news has sparked calls for the implementation of better food systems with Jos‚àö¬© Graziano da Silva, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization, saying that while current food systems produce enough food for everyone, more than half of the world’s population is affected by either over or under consumption.
“We cannot improve nutrition without food security and we cannot achieve food security if we don’t have the right food systems,” he said at a ceremony marking the day – which also marks the foundation of the organisation – held at FAO headquarters in Rome.
Showing that the fight against hunger can be won, Mr Graziano da Silva said that 62 out of the 128 countries monitored by the FAO have achieved the Milliennium Development Goal on hunger – eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.
In a message read at the ceremony, Pope Francis said it was a “scandal” that there is still hunger in the world.
He said he saw the need to change and renew food systems to bring in the value of solidarity with the poor. “We need to educate ourselves in solidarity…not only different forms of assistance”.
Pope Francis also called for the elimination of food wastage which he says affects as much as a third of total food production.
