UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger- An insight towards eradication of global hunger!

How many people are hungry in the world? Globally, about 8.9% of the world’s population — 690 million people — go to bed on an empty stomach each night. Since 2014, the number of people affected by hunger has been slowly on the rise. If it continues at this rate, it’ll exceed 840 million by 2030. We all know India has 3rd largest economy in the world and contribution of agriculture in the economy is 19.9% in 2020–21. India is also the largest producer of many fruits, spices, pulses and crops. Beside these statistics, India is ranked 94th out of 117 countries in Hunger Index 2020 and is in the ‘’serious’’ hunger category with experts blaming poor implementation processes, lack of effective monitoring, siloed approach in tackling malnutrition and poor performance by large states behind the low ranking.

United Nations has come up with the parameters of measurement to understand and work towards achieving its Sustainable Goal 2. Zero Hunger challenge is focused on transformation of how the food is consumed across the globe and how we can make it sustainable and reduce wastage. The elements for the goals are:

1. Sustainable food systems deliver food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the economic, social and environmental bases to generate food security and nutrition for future generations are not compromised.
2. Ending rural poverty will require a determined effort to increase the income of the small-scale producers. Small-scale producers also hold the key to sustainably feeding a growing global population.
3. Minimizing food losses during production, storage and transport, and waste of food by retailers and consumers; empowering consumer choice; commitments by producers, retailers and consumers within all nations.
4. Addressing poverty and inequality and building peoples’ resilience to shocks and stresses. Access to food that forms the basis of healthy and diverse diets is intricately linked to both rights — particularly equity and women’s rights — and resilience.
5. Malnutrition is both a driver and an outcome of poverty and inequality. Undernutrition can also lead to hidden hunger, wasting and stunting, which causes irreversible damage to both individuals and society.

Working towards these elements or targets of SDG 2 will require not only consistent data monitored solutions which can monitor food wastage but also help us develop a system where we can redesign the production, distribution, consumption and storage system.