That represents an increase of about 46 million since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic plunged the world’s economy into a downward spiral, and 150 million more since 2019.
However, this is still short of the 50 percent target set by the 2030 SDGs.
It also examines ways governments can repurpose their current support to agriculture to help make healthy and nutritious food cheaper, mindful of the limited public resources available in many parts of the world.
‘Act today’
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, noted that low-income countries, where agriculture is key to the economy, jobs and rural livelihoods, “have little public resources to repurpose. FAO is committed to continue working together with these countries to explore opportunities for increasing the provision of public services for all actors across agrifood systems.”
WFP chief David Beasley, said there was “a real danger these numbers will climb even higher in the months ahead.”
The report also highlighted the damaging impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted the supply of staple cereals, oilseeds and fertilizer from both nations, as well as international supply chains – provoking soaring prices as well as ready-to-use therapeutic food for severely malnourished children.
Government action
It also calls on governments to do more to reduce trade barriers, which would help lower the price of nutritious foods, such as fruits, vegetables and pulses.
WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that each year, 11 million people died due to unhealth diets.