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The 2024 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report highlights significant challenges in global food security and nutrition. Key points from the report include:
- Food Insecurity: In 2023, 2.33 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity. Of these, over 864 million experienced severe food insecurity. This reflects a concerning global trend, with about 733 million people facing hunger, translating to one in eleven people worldwide and one in five people in Africa.
- Nutritional Affordability: Over 2.8 billion people were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2022. Low-income countries were disproportionately affected, with 71.5% of people in these regions unable to afford nutritious food.
- Child Nutrition: Progress has been made in exclusive breastfeeding, with rates increasing to 48%. However, challenges remain in achieving global nutrition targets. Stunting among children under five is at 22.3%, and there has been stagnation in reducing low birthweight and increased anemia in women.
- Adult Obesity: The prevalence of adult obesity rose from 12.1% in 2012 to 15.8% in 2022. Projections suggest that 1.2 billion adults will be obese by 2030.
- Recommendations: The report emphasizes the need for increased investments in sustainable and cost-effective interventions to prevent child malnutrition, particularly during the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life. It calls for fiscal and regulatory policies to improve access to nutritious, safe, affordable, and sustainable foods, while discouraging the production and consumption of nutrient-poor and ultra-processed foods.
The SOFI Report is a collaborative effort by various international organizations, including UNICEF, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the World Food Programme (WFP). The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address food insecurity and malnutrition globally.