More than a third of the global population faced the harsh reality of being unable to afford a healthy diet in 2022. This alarming statistic was revealed in the 2024 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) alongside four other United Nations agencies.
In 2022, global food prices continued their upward trajectory, significantly increasing the average cost of a healthy diet. Despite this, economic recovery in certain regions helped mitigate the impact, leading to a marginal improvement from 2019 levels. However, this recovery was unevenly distributed across different regions, exposing deep-seated structural issues within global agrifood systems.
Maximo Torero, Chief Economist at FAO, noted, “In 2022, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet dropped below pre-pandemic levels in the group of upper-middle- and high-income countries. In contrast, low-income countries had the highest levels since 2017.” This disparity highlights the stark differences in how regions have rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic aftershocks.
KEY FINDINGS OF THE SOFI 2024 REPORT
The SOFI 2024 report provides a detailed breakdown of the global food insecurity landscape, with some regions suffering more acutely than others.
REGIONAL AFFORDABILITY OF HEALTHY DIETS
- Africa: 64.8% of the population could not afford a healthy diet, marking the highest regional percentage.
- Asia: 35.1% of the population faced similar challenges.
- Latin America and the Caribbean: 27.7% struggled with diet affordability.
- Oceania: 20.1% could not afford a healthy diet.
- Northern America and Europe: 4.8% of the population was affected, the lowest across the regions.
Economic Disparities Post-Pandemic
The report underscores how low-income and lower-middle-income countries experienced an increase in the number of people unable to afford healthy diets from 2019 to 2022. This trend reflects how these economies were less equipped to cope with global supply-chain disruptions and the inflationary pressures that have driven up food commodity prices worldwide.
METHODOLOGY BEHIND THE SOFI 2024 REPORT
The SOFI report details the methodology used to determine the affordability of healthy diets. These diets are defined by criteria including diversity, adequacy, moderation, and balance. The data reveal significant variations in diet affordability, influenced by local purchasing power parity (PPP) and the economic context of different regions.
Global Price Trends
Globally, the average cost of a healthy diet rose to 3.96 PPP dollars in 2022. However, this average conceals substantial regional variations:
- Eastern Asia: The highest average cost at 5.34 PPP dollars.
- Northern America: The lowest at 2.96 PPP dollars.
- Africa: The average price was 3.74 PPP dollars.
- Asia: 4.20 PPP dollars.
- Latin America and the Caribbean: 4.56 PPP dollars.
- Oceania: 3.46 PPP dollars.
- Northern America and Europe: 3.75 PPP dollars, with Southern Europe averaging 4.15 PPP dollars and Western Europe at 3.01 PPP dollars.
IMPACT ON VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
A staggering 1.677 billion people in lower-middle-income countries and 503 million in low-income countries could not afford a healthy diet in 2022. Together, these populations represent 77% of the global total unable to access adequate nutrition. The inability to afford a healthy diet not only increases the risk of food insecurity but also exacerbates chronic conditions such as stunting and wasting, particularly among children.
Early Warning Indicators and Policy Implications
The SOFI 2024 report highlights the role of the FAO’s data as an early warning system for global food insecurity. As the affordability of healthy diets remains a critical indicator of nutritional well-being, the report calls for greater investment in agrifood systems, especially in regions where fiscal capacities are weakest and where economic growth is being stifled by high food costs.
CALL TO ACTION: TRANSFORMING AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS
THE UNEVEN PROGRESS IN MAKING HEALTHY DIETS ACCESSIBLE underscores the need for transformative action in global agrifood systems. The SOFI report emphasizes the urgency of accelerating these transformations to build resilience against future shocks and to address the inequalities that leave millions unable to afford basic nutrition.
Addressing the Global Food Security Challenge
“The uneven progress in the economic access to healthy diets casts a shadow over achieving Zero Hunger by 2030,” the SOFI report warns. With only six years remaining to meet this global goal, the report advocates for both national and international efforts to ensure that healthy diets are not only affordable but also accessible to all.
Maximo Torero stresses, “There is the need to accelerate the transformation of our agrifood systems to strengthen their resilience to the major drivers and address inequalities to ensure that healthy diets are affordable for and available to all. But there is also a need to assure people can access and consume healthy diets.”
PATH FORWARD: INVESTING IN AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS
The SOFI 2024 report makes it clear that tackling global food insecurity will require innovative investments in agrifood systems. These investments should focus on enhancing the sustainability and resilience of food production, distribution, and consumption patterns.
Key Areas for Investment
- Sustainable Agriculture: Promoting practices that increase food production without compromising environmental integrity.
- Resilient Supply Chains: Building robust supply chains that can withstand global disruptions.
- Nutritional Education: Ensuring populations understand the importance of balanced diets and how to achieve them within their economic constraints.
As the world grapples with the challenge of ensuring food security for all, the insights from the SOFI 2024 report serve as a crucial guide. Achieving the goal of Zero Hunger by 2030 is still possible, but it will require concerted efforts to address the disparities in diet affordability and access. By investing in and transforming agrifood systems, we can build a more resilient and equitable world where everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthy, nourished life.
