It is time to rethink how we grow, share and consume our food.

If done right, agriculture, forestry and fisheries can provide nutritious food for all and generate decent incomes, while supporting people-centred rural development and protecting the environment.

Right now, our soils, freshwater, oceans, forests and biodiversity are being rapidly degraded. Climate change is putting even more pressure on the resources we depend on, increasing risks associated with disasters such as droughts and floods. Many rural women and men can no longer make ends meet on their land, forcing them to migrate to cities in search of opportunities.

A profound change of the global food and agriculture system is needed if we are to nourish today’s 795 million hungry and the additional 2 billion people expected by 2050.

The food and agriculture sector offers key solutions for development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication.

Hunger

• Globally, one in nine people in the world today (795 million) are undernourished

• The vast majority of the world’s hungry people live in developing countries, where 12.9 per cent of the population is undernourished.

• Poor nutrition causes nearly half (45 per cent) of deaths in children under five – 3.1 million children each year.

• One in four of the world’s children suffer stunted growth. In developing countries the proportion can rise to one in three.

• 66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry across the developing world, with 23 million in Africa alone.

Food security

• Agriculture is the single largest employer in the world, providing livelihoods for 40 per cent of today’s global population. It is the largest source of income and jobs for poor rural households.
• 500 million small farms worldwide, most still rainfed, provide up to 80 per cent of food consumed in a large part of the developing world. Investing in smallholder women and men is an important way to increase food security and nutrition for the poorest, as well as food production for local and global markets.
• Since the 1900s, some 75 per cent of crop diversity has been lost from farmers’ fields. Better use of agricultural biodiversity can contribute to more nutritious diets, enhanced livelihoods for farming communities and more resilient and sustainable farming systems.
• If women farmers had the same access to resources as men, the number of hungry in the world could be reduced by up to 150 million.

• End malnutrition by improving social programs for children, mothers and the elderly, and ensuring safe, nutritious and sufficient food year-round.

• Increase agricultural production and income of small farmers, especially women and indigenous peoples, respecting the environment, the biodiversity of each region and their own resources.

• Prevent problems such as drought, floods, and other disasters.

• Protect the variety of species of seeds, crops and farm animals (domestic and wild), and fairly distribute the benefits of these resources.

• Don't waste food! Bring home leftovers from meals out, only cook as much as you really think you're going to eat, or start a compost bin in your home.
• Freeze fresh produce and leftovers if you don't have the chance to eat them before they go bad. You will save food and money.
• Buy Funny Fruit-many fruits and vegetables are thrown out because their size, shape, or colour are not "right". Buying these perfectly good funny fruit utilises food that might otherwise go to waste.
• If you're a business - arrange for excess food to be donated.
• Support local farmers or markets and making sustainable food choices, supporting good nutrition for all, and fighting food waste.
• Use your power as a consumer and voter, demanding businesses and the government makes the choices and changes that will make Zero Hunger a reality. 

Zero Hunger: Why It Matters