By Emily Johnson
The State of Global Hunger and Nutrition
Recent analysis from U.N. agencies shows that while global hunger has declined in recent years, the numbers remain alarmingly high. An estimated 645 million people faced hunger in 2025, and by the same measure, healthy diets are now unaffordable for nearly 2.7 billion people worldwide. Trends also reveal uneven progress: Central and Southern Asia and Latin America have improved, while sub-Saharan Africa and Western Asia continue to lag.
Main Drivers Undermining Food Security
Conflict and Instability
Conflict remains a dominant force behind food crises. More than 80% of people facing acute food insecurity live in areas affected by conflict. Famine conditions were confirmed in parts of Gaza and Sudan, with the risk of famine persisting into 2026. Conflict disrupts farming, supply chains, and humanitarian aid.
Climate Extremes and Weather Shocks
Climate-related factors—droughts, floods, and rising temperatures—are increasingly frequent and extreme. These events damage crops, reduce yields, and undermine food systems worldwide. Unpredictable weather drivers, like developing El Niño conditions, threaten to worsen production shortfalls.
Economic Strain and Affordability</
Even when food is available, it’s often unaffordable. Rising prices for staples, energy, and fertilizers are squeezing both farmers and consumers. Governments are struggling to balance costs, with many needing to cut back on aid programs and subsidies.
Trends that Threaten to Reverse Progress
Several emerging and structural issues risk undoing recent gains:
- Food systems are off-track. An international assessment across nearly 200 countries found that most are unlikely to meet key food system goals—on nutrition, sustainability, livelihoods, governance, and resilience—by the 2030 targets.
- Supply chain disruptions, including geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions, are adding volatility to agricultural and food markets. For regions dependent on imports, this means higher risk of shortages and inflation.
- Funding gaps are becoming critical. Despite growing needs, humanitarian aid and development assistance are not keeping pace, threatening emergency response and long-term resilience-building efforts.
What Can Be Done: Policy and Global Cooperation
Tackling global food insecurity requires both immediate action and long-term strategy. Here are some paths forward:
- Strengthen aid and safety nets. Expanding social protection systems and emergency aid can help vulnerable populations survive shocks. Resources must reach conflict zones and marginalized groups.
- Adapt and transform food systems. Climate-smart agriculture, resilient infrastructure, and diversified supply systems can reduce vulnerability to extremes and disruptions.
- Improve affordability. Policies that address inflation, reduce barriers to healthy food access, subsidize essential inputs like fertilizers, and balance trade dependencies can make diets more accessible globally.
- Reinforce multilateral cooperation. Global agreements and coordination around trade, climate, and food systems are more important than ever—especially to respond to systemic risks that cross borders.
A View from Boise
Here at home in Boise, it may feel like a world away—but global food security affects us too. Price shocks, disruptions in supply chains, and climate impacts anywhere ripple outward. Supporting sustainable and just food systems globally not only helps communities abroad—it builds resilience in ours.