Hunger rates drop slightly, but high food prices put progress at risk; Food banks are providing nutritious food to people in places where food security is hard to achieve.
(Chicago/Addis Ababa) — Global shocks, including inflation and conflict, left 673 million people faced hunger in 2024, while 2.3 billion faced food insecurity, according to the latest UN State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 report (SOFI). The results were presented at the UN Food System Summit +4 Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
While global hunger and food insecurity rates improved slightly from the previous year, food insecurity is on the rise in Africa and western Asia. Persistent high food prices in low- and middle-income countries are creating strong headwinds in the work to reduce global hunger.
The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) is working with food bank partners across 50 countries to advance food recovery and redistribution as a model to address food insecurity and reduce the environmental impacts of food loss and waste. The latest annual data from GFN shows food banks across its network increased food access for 38 million people in 2024, providing the equivalent of 2 billion meals. Food banking organizations in emerging and developing markets increased their service delivery by an average of 10% (by volume) from 2023 to 2024. Nearly half of all food provided by the network were fruits and vegetables, which remain the most expensive food category, according to UN report.
Food banking was recognized during UNFSS+4 by the FAO, UN Global Compact and World Business Council for Sustainable Development as one of 15 co-investment opportunities that illustrate how the private sector can work with non-governmental organizations and other actors to transform global agri-food systems.
Following is a statement from Lisa Moon, President and CEO, The Global FoodBanking Network, in response to the SOFI 2025 report:
“The latest UN report is a sober reminder that far too many people around the world still cannot access a healthy diet, and many face growing pressures due to multiple, overlapping crises. The hunger crisis is not primarily about food availability — it’s about accessibility.
“At the same time, community-led food banks, many of which are in low- and middle-income countries that have been hardest hit by food inflation, are responding to growing demand and prioritizing distribution of nutritious foods, such as fruits and vegetables. We urgently need all sectors — government, business and civil society — to work together to shift the food system so that it works for everyone.”
글로벌 푸드뱅킹 네트워크 소개
푸드뱅킹은 만성적인 기아와 기후 위기 모두에 대한 해결책을 제시합니다. GFN은 50개국 이상의 파트너들과 협력하여 남는 건강한 식품을 필요한 사람들에게 전달합니다. 2024년, 저희 네트워크는 3,800만 명에게 식량을 제공하여 음식물 쓰레기를 줄이고 건강하고 회복력 있는 지역사회를 만드는 데 기여했습니다. 저희는 식량 시스템이 사람과 지구를 함께 보살피는 본래의 기능을 제대로 수행할 수 있도록 돕습니다. 더 자세한 정보는 foodbanking.org에서 확인하세요.
