Posted on 07/13/2021 5:09:55 AM PDT by blam
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021 (SOFI 2021) report warns food insecurity and malnutrition have hit 15-year highs and are likely to worsen.
Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was on track to minimize hunger and malnutrition by 2030. But the virus pandemic disrupted economic flows around the globe, unleashing supply chain hell, compounded by disruptive weather, along with overstimulation by central banks and governments, helping to induce inflation, which has put the world at a critical juncture.
A staggering 811 million people went hungry in 2020, or about 10% of the entire world population. The decade ending in 2014 saw the number of undernourished people fall to 607 million and base through 2019 around 650 million. But as soon as the pandemic hit, food insecurity soared by more than 150 million people to 811 million.
“The report indicates that progress has been made for some forms of malnutrition, but the world is not on track to achieve any global nutrition targets by 2030,” the report said.
Globally, 44 percent of infants under 6 months of age were exclusively breastfed in 2019 – up from 37 percent in 2012 but the practice varies considerably among regions. Child malnutrition still persists at an alarming rate –an estimated 149 million children were stunted, 45 million were wasted and 39 million were overweight in 2020. The report presents new projections of potential additional cases of child stunting and wasting due to COVID-19. Based on a conservative scenario, it is projected that an additional 22 million children in low- and middle-income countries will be stunted, an additional 40 million will be wasted between 2020 and 2030 due to the pandemic. -SOFI
“This is a wake-up call to the entire world,” David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme, told an audience of a webcast Monday.
Beasley said: “We’re heading in the wrong direction. To think that we’re going to end hunger by 2030, that’s not even possible given the direction, trajectory we’re on now.”
None of this should come as a surprise to readers as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) global food price index recently hit a new high. The non-governmental organization warned surging food prices may induce a “potential crisis” in lower-income countries: “Rising food imports as a share of all imports can be an early warning indicator for potential crises in some areas.”
As a reminder, ahead of the rapid rise in food prices, SocGen’s market skeptic Albert Edwards in December shared his thoughts about why he started to panic about soaring food prices. And since then, food supply chains remain broken, trillions in fiscal stimulus spent, and exploding commodity costs, we can only imagine the situation is getting worse by the month.
More recently, Deutsche Bank’s Jim Reid reminds us that emerging markets are more vulnerable to food insecurity since their consumers spend a far greater share of their income on food than those in the developed world.
Other highlights from the SOFI report show Asia is home to most of the undernourished people post-COVID.
Analysts Michael Every and Michael Magdovitz of Rabobank warn that surging food prices could exacerbate global food insecurity.
Pandemic-driven hunger may already trigger social unrest as destabilization erupts in impoverished countries such as Haiti, Cuba, and South Africa.
Ugh. The definition of "Food Security" is so ridiculous when you read it but now it seems as if it has been redefined even more. Anxiety about food is now part of the determining factor. If you miss one meal like breakfast you are at risk even if you chose to skip it on purpose.
America has the fattest poor people of any nation on Earth. If we want to "solve" this problem get rid of EBT cards and go back to commodities (actual cheese, milk, produce, etc...) for food stamps.
Most "food insecurity" has nothing to do with money at all but children in terrible situations with "parents" that don't give a damn about anyone but theirselves.
And yes, being overweight you can be a “victim” of “food insecurity”.
Correct. Why should my tax dollars be spent feeding people what I can’t afford to eat myself like steak and lobster? Most of us have been behind a welfare cart in a grocery store. I was behind a young couple the other day, in their 20s’, and they had over $800 in their basket! They looked plenty healthy to be working someplace that being on the dole.
not really sure that lack of food is the biggest problem facing the average American .... I’d post pictures, but is it really necessary?
When even the poor, starving illegals crossing from Mexico are fat slobs, I think they’re beating a dead horse.
While I understand your thinking to actually do that would expand the cost of the system to an incredible extent.
The state would have to create a whole new system of distribution.
The logistics of distribution would be daunting.
It is NOT “pandemic-driven”, it’s SOCIALISM-driven.
Shut down the economy and people go hungry. Who would have thought? But let’s shut down the economy some more.
Shutdowns. Forced by this world communist movement ; masquerading as a Covid hoax
have done more to destroy the poor than anything could ever be imagined!!
These super wealthy globalist asswipes don’t give a crap about anybody
They need to be rounded up and shot
Wrong.
It’s government mismanagement at all levels.
Which includes using a cold virus to destroy the economy.
Locally, they’re giving away food hand over fist. Churches, food banks. Until about 6 weeks ago they were giving away what were called “Trump boxes”, for whatever reason. A gallon of milk, about a pound of cheese, a pack of hot dogs, precooked chicken, and precooked chicken meatballs. onions, potatoes, carrots, oranges, apples, yogurt, and cottage cheese or sour cream. Once a week, and some folks were taking two boxes. Plus bread, and incidentals. Cases of potato cups, for instance. I heard the churches gave away better things. And I ‘m sure that every person in line was also getting food stamps. Nobody was starving.
Were these items donated privately? Distributed by volunteers? Donated food and volunteer labor make a big difference.
Back in te 80’s during Reagan the government gave away Dept of Agriculture excess Cheese and other food. All that was necessary was to show proof of being on welfare or SS.
That program worked well but it was in addition to other Fed benefits. And as an by the way, Many private food corps complained loudly that the program was eating into their profits. They wanted that food buried in land fills or dumped in the ocean.
If you replace the current benefits with a similar system it would quickly get complicated and expensive. Reagan’s system was expensive than throwing away the food because of the needed distribution and accounting.
Hunger in the US IS NOT due to being poor. There are enough government programs available that people could get obese on them. It is irresponsible parents/guardians that are the sole cause.
To the best of my knowledge, everything was private. I know the labor was voluntary. They take donations in cash or cans...distribute in a local mall parking lot. Lots of eggs at times. “Day old” breads. Starbucks coffee, frozen pizzas, bottled teas.
Dont make fun or belittle those who are food insecure. It is real. For the past month I’ve been a member of that group, wondering how I’ll be able to consume the usual amount of prime grade ribeye with the prices junping $5 per lb higher.
“… prime grade ribeye with the prices junping $5 per lb higher…”
$17.58/lb at Sam’s Club yesterday in northern Virginia….
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