Food: The UN’s goal of a hunger-free world by 2030 is unachievable
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: The United Nations’ goal of creating a hunger-free world by 2030 would most likely not be achieved, an eminent German agriculture economist said on Saturday.
Addressing the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE), Martin Qaim, Professor of Agricultural Economics and Director of the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, said some forms of malnutrition are on the rise globally.
“At present, we have widespread hunger and malnutrition around the world, which seriously hamper development. Our goal of a world without hunger will most likely not be achieved by 2030,” he said.
Qaim said climate change and geopolitical tensions are exacerbating hunger and malnutrition problems.
“And we cannot ignore that our food systems themselves were contributing significantly to the climate crisis and several other environmental problems,” he said.
Underlining that without major changes in the way the world produces, distributes, and consumes foods, Qaim said that none of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDG) goals can be achieved.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – adopted by all United Nations member-states in 2015 — provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 SDGs, which call for urgent action by all countries — developed and developing — in a global partnership.
Goal 2 of SDG was about creating a hunger-free world by 2030.
