About this Research Topic
This collection is Volume II of the Research Topic X-raying Zero Hunger (SDG2) Targets in Africa and Other Regions: Progress, Synergies, Opportunities, and Challenges.
The task of feeding over 8 billion people around the world remains a serious challenge to critical stakeholders and governments of nations, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition (SOFI) 2023, it was estimated that between 690 and 783 million people in the world experienced hunger in 2022. In 2022, about 122 million more people faced hunger than in the pre-pandemic period (2019), and it is projected that about 600 million people will experience chronic hunger by 2030.
Despite these alarming statistics, the percentage of the population grappling with hunger is notably higher in Africa than in other global regions. About 20% of the population is affected, compared to 8.5% in Asia, 6.5% in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 7.0% in Oceania. The United Nations (UN) has formulated 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2, known as Zero Hunger. This goal aims to "end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture" by 2030.
Since the release of the UN SDG 2 agenda in 2015, many member nations have been working diligently to formulate and adopt food and nutrition-sensitive policy interventions geared towards achieving the Zero Hunger target by 2030. However, despite these efforts, Africa and other regions are struggling to achieve significant reductions in hunger due to persistent challenges. These challenges include extreme poverty, rapid population growth, soaring food prices, unemployment, social exclusion, extreme weather events, corruption, violent conflicts, wars, and insurgencies. These factors have a profound impact on food security, making it difficult to meet the Zero Hunger goal.
In recent times, the United Nations Food System Summit has been conducted across various countries of the world to promote adequate food production and transform food systems to address the persisting scourge of malnutrition. This summit highlighted the need for a more comprehensive approach to tackle the complex challenges surrounding food security.
This Research Topic aims to examine the progress made towards achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger, in Africa and other regions. It analyses the synergies between SDG 2 and other Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on the five key targets: ending hunger and malnutrition, doubling small-scale food producers' incomes, ensuring sustainable food production systems, and maintaining genetic diversity in agriculture. The Research Topic aims to further explore the opportunities and challenges faced by African nations, and other regions, in achieving Zero Hunger by 2030, with a focus on the implementation of relevant plans and programs.
Submissions to this Research Topic should focus on studies related to the progress, synergies, opportunities, and challenges of the Zero Hunger target in Africa and other regions of the world. Submissions may include, but are not limited to, the following themes:
• Food and nutrition-sensitive intervention programs;
• Zero Hunger (SDG 2) policy and programs;
• Malnutrition among rural and urban households;
• Scorecards for SDG 2 target;
• Prevalence of hunger in conflict-affected areas in Africa and other regions;
• A comparative analysis of hunger prevalence in conflict-affected and non-conflict areas in Africa and other regions;
• Prevalence of hunger among agricultural households in Africa and other regions;
• Social Safety Net Programmes and SDG 2;
• Corruption, violent conflicts, climate change, and SDG 2;
• Resilient Food Production Systems;
• Issues related to resilient agricultural practices such as climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable intensification, among others;
• All issues that are linked with access to productive resources such as secure and equal access to land, inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
The task of feeding over 8 billion people around the world remains a serious challenge to critical stakeholders and governments of nations, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition (SOFI) 2023, it was estimated that between 690 and 783 million people in the world experienced hunger in 2022. In 2022, about 122 million more people faced hunger than in the pre-pandemic period (2019), and it is projected that about 600 million people will experience chronic hunger by 2030.
Despite these alarming statistics, the percentage of the population grappling with hunger is notably higher in Africa than in other global regions. About 20% of the population is affected, compared to 8.5% in Asia, 6.5% in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 7.0% in Oceania. The United Nations (UN) has formulated 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2, known as Zero Hunger. This goal aims to "end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture" by 2030.
Since the release of the UN SDG 2 agenda in 2015, many member nations have been working diligently to formulate and adopt food and nutrition-sensitive policy interventions geared towards achieving the Zero Hunger target by 2030. However, despite these efforts, Africa and other regions are struggling to achieve significant reductions in hunger due to persistent challenges. These challenges include extreme poverty, rapid population growth, soaring food prices, unemployment, social exclusion, extreme weather events, corruption, violent conflicts, wars, and insurgencies. These factors have a profound impact on food security, making it difficult to meet the Zero Hunger goal.
In recent times, the United Nations Food System Summit has been conducted across various countries of the world to promote adequate food production and transform food systems to address the persisting scourge of malnutrition. This summit highlighted the need for a more comprehensive approach to tackle the complex challenges surrounding food security.
This Research Topic aims to examine the progress made towards achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger, in Africa and other regions. It analyses the synergies between SDG 2 and other Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on the five key targets: ending hunger and malnutrition, doubling small-scale food producers' incomes, ensuring sustainable food production systems, and maintaining genetic diversity in agriculture. The Research Topic aims to further explore the opportunities and challenges faced by African nations, and other regions, in achieving Zero Hunger by 2030, with a focus on the implementation of relevant plans and programs.
Submissions to this Research Topic should focus on studies related to the progress, synergies, opportunities, and challenges of the Zero Hunger target in Africa and other regions of the world. Submissions may include, but are not limited to, the following themes:
• Food and nutrition-sensitive intervention programs;
• Zero Hunger (SDG 2) policy and programs;
• Malnutrition among rural and urban households;
• Scorecards for SDG 2 target;
• Prevalence of hunger in conflict-affected areas in Africa and other regions;
• A comparative analysis of hunger prevalence in conflict-affected and non-conflict areas in Africa and other regions;
• Prevalence of hunger among agricultural households in Africa and other regions;
• Social Safety Net Programmes and SDG 2;
• Corruption, violent conflicts, climate change, and SDG 2;
• Resilient Food Production Systems;
• Issues related to resilient agricultural practices such as climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable intensification, among others;
• All issues that are linked with access to productive resources such as secure and equal access to land, inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
Keywords: SDG2, food (in)security, malnutrition, corruption, conflict events, nutrition security
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