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Knowledge Centre for Global Food and Nutrition Security

We support the EU global commitment to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition through a dedicated, reinforced science-policy interface and a fostered inter-policy dialogue.

  • Topic / Tool | Last updated: 15 May 2026
Food crises and food and nutrition security

Developing and improving the knowledge base to inform the EU response to food crises and the coordination of international action.

Global Food and Nutrition Security

Brief me

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  • Global Hunger Surge: In 2024, global hunger affected 638-720 million people. Considering the point estimate (673 million in 2024), this indicates a decrease of 15 million compared to 2023 and of 22 million compared to 2022 (SDG Indicator 2.1.1). However, the world is still above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels and far from eradicating hunger and food insecurity by 2030 (SDG Target 2.1).
  • Widespread Food Insecurity: A concerning 2.3 billion people experienced moderate to severe food insecurity in 2024 (SDG Indicator 2.1.2).
  • Nutrition: Scaling up effective nutrition interventions, and incorporating a gender and life-cycle approach, are essential actions to tackle all forms of malnutrition. Malnutrition affects all regions, age, socioeconomic groups and sexes. Countries are facing multiple forms of malnutrition, and no country is untouched by at least one form of malnutrition: stunting, wasting, overweight and obesity, micronutrient deficiencies.
  • Record-High Crisis: A record 266 million people in 47 food crisis countries and territories faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025, demanding urgent assistance. Out of the 47 countries/territories with food crises, 23 experienced a nutrition crisis.
  • Drivers of Insecurity: Protracted conflicts, extreme weather, and global economic shocks in vulnerable contexts are primary culprits of global food insecurity.
  • Affordability Challenge:  2.60 billion people worldwide couldn't afford a healthy diet in 2024.
  • Trade: Trade plays a crucial role in enhancing global food and nutrition security by increasing food availability, improving access to diverse and nutritious diets, and reducing price volatility. However, trade can also pose challenges, particularly for countries heavily reliant on imports, and requires careful management to ensure equitable access to food and food sovereignty. 
  • Call for Transformation: Beyond crisis response, transformative policies are crucial to address systemic inequalities and enhance food system outcomes.
  • EU's Commitment: The EU is committed to combating food insecurity and eradicating hunger as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

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Brief me on "Food crises and food and nutrition security"

Based on the 1996 World Food Summit, food security is defined when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious…

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The EU is firmly committed to pursue its cooperation with partner countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger, improve nutrition and alleviate food insecurity by strengthening…

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