Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, soaring food prices are leading millions more to face acute food insecurity and more countries have been pushed into dire need of food assistance.
Over a quarter billion people in 58 countries face acute food insecurity at crisis or worse levels according to the Global Report on Food Crises.
There is also hidden hunger where people might be getting enough calories, but not enough nutrition — the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition found in 2022 that 1 in 2 preschool-aged children and 2 out of 3 women of reproductive age worldwide are affected by vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This has social and economic impacts.