According to a recent study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in 2019, 2 billion people did not have regular access to safe, nutritious and adequate food. A preliminary assessment estimates that as a result of COVID-19, up to 132 million additional people (often those that were already the most vulnerable) will be undernourished. And, if we fast forward to 2050, an additional 2 billion more people on this planet will need to be fed, requiring us to roughly double our food production. If left unchecked, the devastating and long-reaching effects of food insecurity will become even more critical.
As the world’s largest sector, accounting for 10% of the world’s GDP and employing 1 billion people, the food industry can be a significant catalyst for change. Collaborative, multi-sector efforts to implement new policies, processes, and incentives that provide equitable access to a healthy diet can significantly improve well-being and quality of life.