Food insecurity is a condition where people lack access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life¹. Food insecurity can have various dimensions, such as availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability of food supplies². Food insecurity can affect individuals, households, communities, and countries, and can have negative impacts on health, nutrition, education, income, and development.

According to the United Nations, the world population is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, with 68% living in urban areas³. This will put more pressure on existing food resources and infrastructure, especially in developing countries where access to safe and sufficient food is still a challenge. The demand for food will be 60% higher than it was in 2010⁴, but climate change, urbanization, and soil degradation will have shrunk the availability of arable land.

The main drivers of food insecurity by 2050 are:

• Climate change effects on food production: Climate change can alter the hydrological cycle and affect the distribution and variability of water resources. Climate change can also increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, heat waves, and storms, which can have negative impacts on food production and distribution. Climate change can affect the availability and quality of crops, livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture by altering their growth conditions, pest and disease incidence, and yield potential.
• Land degradation and loss of biodiversity: Land degradation is the reduction or loss of the biological or economic value and productivity of land due to human activities or natural causes. Land degradation can reduce the quality and quantity of food production by affecting soil fertility, water retention, erosion control, and carbon sequestration. Land degradation can also reduce the diversity and resilience of ecosystems and species that provide food and other services.
• Population growth and urbanization: Population growth and urbanization increase the demand for food resources for domestic, industrial, and agricultural purposes. Population growth can also increase the competition for land, water, energy, and other inputs that are essential for food production. Urbanization can affect food security by reducing the availability of land for agriculture, increasing the dependence on food imports and markets, and creating challenges for food distribution and waste management.
• Conflict and instability: Conflict and instability can disrupt food systems and affect food security by causing displacement, violence, insecurity, loss of assets, infrastructure damage, market failure, trade disruption, and humanitarian access constraints. Conflict and instability can also affect the governance and policies that are needed to ensure food security for all.