From Conflict to Climate Change: the Many Causes of World Hunger

Those in attendance at the 4th International Conference on Food Security urged for joint action to bring food security to all the people of the world.

The conference was organised by Uzbekistan with the support of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and attended by the agriculture ministers of many countries, as well as leading food security experts.

One of the main questions needing to be addressed at this year’s conference was just how realistic is it to achieve the second UN Sustainable Development goal of reaching zero hunger by 2030?

Corinna Hawkes, is Director of Food Systems and Food Safety Division.

“It does look unfortunately at this point in time that we will not achieve the SDG2, that is what the data is telling us. What’s urgently needed is cooperation. We have food systems that are not delivering food security. To fix issues related to the economy, the environment, health, or social problems that are part of food systems we need to have the people who are working on those issues talk to each other and to cooperate.”

There are many threats to global food security ranging from armed conflicts, supply chain disruption, poverty, and climate change. All of which have combined to produce an increase in the number of people who do not have enough to eat.

In fact since 2019 over 122 million more people face hunger due to conflicts, pandemics, and repeated weather shocks.

Yerlan Baidaulet, is the Director General, Islamic Organization for Food Security.  

“The reason for the current drastic food insecurity in countries like Afghanistan and Yemen, is climate change and social and economic instability. We discussed global partnership. That is the main solution for us – to bring resources, people and scientific methods on