IDB 2020: Health and Food
Considering all people in the world affected by moderate levels of food insecurity together with those who suffer from hunger, it is estimated that over 2 billion people do not have regular access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food. Hunger is on the rise in almost all African subregions, making Africa the region with the highest prevalence of undernourishment; Western Asia shows a continuous increase since 2010.
It is projected that there will be a greater reduction in global crop yields and global nutrition under global warming of 2°C compared to 1.5°C. By 2050, land degradation and climate change together are predicted to reduce crop yields by an average of 11 per cent in regions that already experience food insecurity. The loss of global biodiversity, including the loss of genetic diversity and crop wild relatives, undermines agricultural system resilience to pests, pathogens and climate change and poses a severe risk to long-term food security.
We can help safeguard the adaptive capacity of food production through the conservation of genetic diversity while also contributing to healthy and culturally-relevant nutrition. Climate change impacts on food security can be reduced substantially with:
- awareness campaigns for crop yield-maintaining technologies;
- adaptation strategies and polices
- integrated agriculture-aquaculture practices,
- greater investment in crop diversification, and
- integrated water resource management.
Sustainable agricultural production practices, such as integrated pest and nutrient management, organic agriculture, soil and water conservation practices and practices to improve animal welfare.
More information:
EAT Lancet report: Healthy diets from sustainable food systems