SOFI REPORT 2024 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)

Context: The latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report reveals that global undernourishment levels remained at pre-pandemic figures for the third consecutive year, with one in 11 people experiencing hunger in 2023.

State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report 2024

• About: It was launched in the context of the G20 Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty Task Force Ministerial Meeting in Brazil.
• Prepared by: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Released by: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Key Findings

• Estimated Hunger Figures: Between 713 and 757 million people may have faced hunger in 2023.
• Warning Sign for SDG 2: This figure indicates a significant shortfall in meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, Zero Hunger, by the 2030 deadline.
• 15-Year Regression: The world has reverted to levels of undernourishment seen in 2008-2009, setting back progress by 15 years.
• Persistent Food Insecurity: Around 2.33 billion people globally experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023, a number that has not improved since the pandemic.
• Severe Food Insecurity: Over 864 million people faced severe food insecurity, sometimes going an entire day or more without food.
• The percentage of the population facing hunger continued to rise in Africa (20.4%), remained stable in Asia (8.1%) and showed progress in Latin America (6.2%). From 2022 to 2023, hunger increased in Western Asia, the Caribbean, and most African subregions.