OPINION: Why global collaboration and local solutions are critical in tackling world hunger

The development community faces a critical juncture, with only five years remaining to fulfil the 2015 commitment to end hunger by 2030.

Currently, a staggering 733 million people—one in eleven individuals globally—suffer from hunger (FAO et al., 2024).

If current trends persist, hunger levels in 2030 are projected to exceed those of 2015, the year the world pledged to eradicate hunger under the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Despite economic recovery in many nations, current projections indicate that hunger levels will barely return to pre-COVID-19 levels by 2030, signifying a significant setback in progress.

Recent global shocks and immediate drivers of hunger and malnutrition have exacerbated pre-existing structural challenges, intensifying the current hunger crisis. Key drivers include economic shocks and downturns, ongoing conflicts, and the increasing frequency and severity of climate variability and extreme weather events.

Economic vulnerabilities, particularly in countries with high food import dependency, are amplified by global price fluctuations. Furthermore, climate-related impacts, such as the record-breaking temperatures and severe flooding witnessed in 2023, have significantly disrupted food production and availability, deepening the food crises in affected regions (FAO et al., 2024).

A world without hunger is attainable. Global food production per capita continues to increase annually.

The primary challenge lies not in insufficient global food production but rather in the significant disparities between food production and consumption locations, coupled with the limited economic means of vulnerable populations to acquire adequate food.

Effective strategies for ending hunger are well established, and the necessary financial resources have been quantified. One approach is involving youths in agriculture; this can significantly contribute to ending hunger.

Young people bring fresh perspectives, energy, and a willingness to adopt new technologies, leading to increased productivity and addressing the ageing agricultural workforce.

Youth involvement fosters entrepreneurship, creating jobs and economic opportunities, while also empowering them to contribute to increased food production and access, thereby improving food security. 

Youths, often more technologically readily integrate technological advancements into agricultural practices.

This includes utilising precision agriculture technologies like GPS-guided tractors and drones, leveraging digital platforms for market access and e-commerce, employing data analytics for informed decision-making, and contributing to the development and implementation of innovative technologies such as AI-powered robots and blockchain.

By embracing these technologies, young farmers can enhance productivity, efficiency, and profitability, ultimately contributing to increased food security and a more sustainable agricultural sector.

However, addressing challenges such as limited access to resources, making agriculture more attractive, and providing quality education and training are crucial for successful youth engagement. 

Another way to end hunger is through income generation, especially among the agrifood systems.

An income-generating approach, based on growth in productivity and incomes for the poorest and most vulnerable through value addition, is the most resilient, sustainable, and lasting way to end hunger (UNIDO, 2023): it combines expanding food production and providing the economic means for the population to buy food; this is the most effective way to redistribute production and consumption to where it is needed most.

To effectively utilise value addition for increased food security and hunger eradication, the emphasis needs to be on the following key interventions:. Firstly, substantial investments are crucial for enhancing farm productivity and incomes through agricultural research and development (R&D), robust extension services, farm mechanisation, and the widespread adoption of information and communications technologies (ICTs) and digital tools.

Secondly, significant investments are required for the construction and maintenance of vital infrastructure, including irrigation systems, reliable electricity, well-maintained rural roads, and adequate storage facilities to minimize post-harvest losses

While the role of value addition in agriculture is well recognised, less explored is its potential to generate income for individuals affected by hunger and poverty through advancements in agrifood processing, distribution, and retail.

Investing in agrifood processing, particularly by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within domestic and regional markets, has proven highly effective.

Agrifood processing offers a multifaceted approach: expanding opportunities for producers, bolstering food security, and driving the overall transformation of the food system.

Specifically, it mitigates post-harvest losses of nutritious foods through optimised handling, improved packaging, and enhanced cold storage. Concurrently, it enhances food safety by implementing both basic food preservation techniques (e.g., drying, fermentation) and advanced industrial processes (e.g., pasteurization, food fortification)

The successful implementation of the aforementioned investments and technology adoption hinges upon innovative and equitable financial solutions that enable scaling.

A significant challenge within the agrifood sector is the limited access to finance, particularly for the'missing 'middle'—small'-scale producers and agrifood SMEs seeking loans. This segment plays a crucial role in driving productivity growth and poverty reduction.

To address this, several innovative financing solutions are gaining traction: (i) factoring, (ii) supply chain finance/reverse factoring, (iii) outcome financing, (iv) real estate investment trusts, (v) priority sector lending (PSL), (vi) asset monetisation, and (vii) guarantees.

These solutions emphasise fostering strong, trust-based relationships among farmers, SMEs, buyers, traders, and wholesalers. However, the success of all these solutions necessitates increased participation from both domestic governments and investors.

Finally, to ensure that the additional income generated through value addition benefits small-scale producers and agrifood SMEs, effective trade and competition policies, coupled with robust regional integration, are paramount.

This necessitates reforming detrimental trade policies, facilitating trade processes, and enhancing the enforcement of competition laws and policies by regulatory bodies

Ending hunger necessitates prioritising income generation for those experiencing hunger and poverty through localised value addition within the agrifood sector.

This value addition strategy must be founded on resilience, sustainability, and long-term impact for effective hunger eradication. The success of this income-generating approach hinges on the coordinated international implementation and financing of all the aforementioned interventions.

Only an integrated, strategically sequenced, and adequately financed approach can achieve the eradication of hunger.

Nixon Mageka Gecheo is Senior Digital Officer AGRA