What's New

This post first appeared on the IFPRI Event Blog by Ahdi Mohammed and Katarlah Taylor.

After decades of steady decline, the trend in world hunger—as measured by the prevalence of undernourishment—reverted in 2015, remaining virtually unchanged in the past three years at a level slightly below 11%. As a result, more than 820 million people globally were still hungry in 2018, the latest UN State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report finds, underscoring the immense challenge of achieving the Zero Hunger target by 2030.

Poor diets are now the No. 1 risk factor in the global burden of disease (GBD) , accounting for one in five deaths globally. Too much sugar, fat, and red meat increase the risks of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer—all killers in later life (mostly in higher income countries). Too little nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, meat, and fish are associated with wasting, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies in early childhood—all killers in early life (mostly in lower income countries).

Poor diets are now the No. 1 risk factor in the global burden of disease (GBD), accounting for one in five deaths globally. Too much sugar, fat, and red meat increase the risks of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer—all killers in later life (mostly in higher income countries). Too little nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, meat, and fish are associated with wasting, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies in early childhood—all killers in early life (mostly in lower income countries).

Written by Joseph Glauber , Senior Research Fellow, Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division, IFPRI

Price volatility in maize and wheat futures markets has increased in recent days, based on uncertainty over planting progress and conditions affecting grains and oilseeds in the United States and hot and dry weather in Europe and the Black Sea Region during the grain fill stage which has potentially affected wheat yields. Despite recent price increases, global stock levels remain relatively high and should sufficiently buffer the impact of potential production shortfalls.

In June 2019, the FAO Food Price Index fell a marginal 0.3 percent from May and was at a similar level as that seen in June 2018. This decrease was driven by the end of dairy and vegetable oil prices’ continuous rise of five months and balanced by a new surge in cereal, sugar, and meat prices.