No Hunger

The number of undernourished people has dropped by almost half in the past two decades due to rapid economic growth and increased agricultural productivity. Many developing countries that used to suffer from famine and hunger can now meet their nutritional needs. Regions like Central and East Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean have made significant progress in eradicating extreme hunger.

However, extreme hunger and malnutrition remain a significant barrier to development in many countries. As of 2017, 821 million people are estimated to be chronically undernourished, often as a direct consequence of environmental degradation, drought, and biodiversity loss. Over 90 million children under five are dangerously underweight. Undernourishment and severe food insecurity are increasing in almost all regions of Africa, as well as in South America.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, ensuring that all people—especially children—have sufficient and nutritious food year-round. This goal involves promoting sustainable agricultural practices, supporting small-scale farmers, and ensuring equal access to land, technology, and markets. It also requires international cooperation to ensure investment in infrastructure and technology to improve agricultural productivity.

Achieving this goal includes improving agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, particularly women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers. This will be accomplished through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources, inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.