UN calls for boosting farm productivity, use of technology to combat hunger

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

A new UN study revealed Tuesday that 733 million people, or one in every 11 people worldwide, are affected by hunger, with severe regional disparities.

The joint study by the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicates that Africa has the highest rates, with 20% of the population affected, followed by Asia at 8% and Latin America at 6%.

At the World Without Hunger conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, UNIDO called on governments and international organizations to increase agricultural productivity and adopt modern technology to combat hunger.

The study "Ending Hunger is Possible: An Income-Generating Approach through Value Addition" emphasizes the need for innovative action to address rising food insecurity.

The report also warns that achieving the UN goal of ending hunger by 2030 will now require $540 billion—up from an initial estimate of $330 billion in 2020—as hunger rates grow globally.

During the conference, UNIDO’s Director Gerd Muller urged developed countries to meet their obligations and honor previously agreed commitments to support the global fight against hunger. He stressed the need for “innovative, immediate action” to tackle this urgent challenge.

The report outlines a series of recommended strategies, emphasizing that boosting agricultural productivity through research, development, and technology adoption is crucial to increasing food production and efficiency.

It also calls for significant investments in essential infrastructure, including irrigation systems, electricity, rural roads, and storage facilities. Such investments are deemed vital to reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring better food distribution in rural and underserved areas.

Beyond economic measures, the report also calls for social protection programs targeted at vulnerable populations, including initiatives to improve access to education and empower women.

“Looking forward to 2030, without additional efforts, 582 million people are expected to be hungry, half of whom will be in Africa. This is approximately 130 million more people than was projected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Muller in the foreword to the joint study.

He described the projected figures as “unacceptable,” urging immediate global action to prevent millions more from slipping into hunger over the next decade.

The World Without Hunger conference, a three-day event that began on Tuesday, aims to inspire “a unified call for global food security like never before.”