Economist Impact released the 10th annual Global Food Security Index (GFSI), which shows that populations with diets that lack quality protein and micronutrients, and where access to drinking water is limited, score worse in food security. Sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, the GFSI revealed a decline in global food security for the second consecutive year during the pandemic. In many countries, the decline reverses pre-pandemic progress.
ASA/WISHH’ s new strategic plan, launched on October 1, 2021, shows that U.S. soybean growers have placed a high priority on global food security and recognize the key role of affordable protein for new market development.
The GFSI also found that hunger (using undernourishment as a measure) and stunting in children are most tied to the quality and safety of food. WISHH is actively working with strategic partners in Asia, Africa and Latin America to offer quality, safe and affordable protein-based nutrition choices.
For the past 10 years, the GFSI has measured the underlying drivers of food security in 113 countries, based on the factors of affordability, availability, quality and safety, and natural resources and resilience. It considers 58 unique food security indicators including income and economic inequality, gender inequality, and environmental and natural resources inequality – calling attention to systemic gaps and actions needed to accelerate progress toward United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #2 – Zero Hunger by 2030.
“The GFSI looks beyond hunger to identify the underlying factors affecting food insecurity around the world,” said Tim Glenn, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Corteva Agriscience. “Corteva is addressing many of the challenges raised in the report head on by delivering innovative solutions farmers need to sustainably meet their productivity goals and by working together with collaborators across the globe to strengthen the integrity of food systems.”
WISHH looks forward to continued work on food systems integrity in Africa, Asia and Latin America as part of its new five-year strategic plan.