COMMITMENT AND ACTION ON WORLD FOOD DAY.
Three days ago, World Food Day was commemorated, a highly relevant date to raise awareness about the crucial target of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger by 2030. In the last decade, prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed remarkable progress in the realm of food and nutrition. These achievements are irrefutable testimony that, with the right determination, sound national policies, and sustainable programs, it is feasible to reach this all-important goal.
Milestones of this progress include:
Decrease in undernutrition: according to FAO, the number of undernourished people has declined from 947 million in 2005 to 721 million in 2019.
Increase in food production: Global cereal production rose to 2,791 million metric tons in 2020, an increase of 2.6% compared to 2019.
Reduced chronic hunger: The proportion of chronically hungry people decreased from 14.7% in 2005 to 8.9% in 2019.
Expanding access to fresh food: Several initiatives have emerged with the aim of improving access to fresh and healthy food, including farmers’ markets and specialty stores.
Reducing food waste: Although about 931 million tons of food were wasted globally in 2019, a decline was observed due to growing awareness and implementation of reduction policies.
Increased availability of organic food: The global organic food market reached $106 billion in 2019, with continued growth prospects.
Research in fortified foods: Fortified foods have been developed to combat nutritional deficiencies, such as fortifying salt with iodine and adding iron and vitamin A to staple foods.
Advances in agricultural technology: The adoption of modern agricultural technologies, such as precision agriculture and biotechnology, has contributed to increased productivity in agriculture.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other global factors, these achievements have undergone significant transformations, and we are once again facing challenges that require our attention. According to United Nations data, approximately 690 million people worldwide suffer from hunger, representing 8.9% of the world’s population.
Unfortunately, the world is not moving in the right direction to meet the goal of eliminating hunger by 2030. If current trends persist, the number of food insecure people is projected to exceed 840 million by 2030.
Inequality in access to nutritious and sustainable food remains one of the preponderant challenges, as does the need to address environmental and health issues linked to food. Progress in food and agriculture is a constantly evolving enterprise that demands the collaboration of governments, organizations, and society.
AgroAmerica: Commitment to food quality and safety
The company I manage, AgroAmerica, a leader in the production of conventional and organic bananas, has made a firm commitment to the quality and nutritional value of its products. To contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger, the company focuses on minimizing food waste and promoting food safety. This commitment translates into efforts to strengthen food security and nutrition both among its workers and in the communities where it operates.
Zero Waste:
AgroAmerica has innovated in banana production to create recycled and healthy food ingredients under the Zero Waste principle. These ingredients, such as mashed banana, Banana Flakes and Banana Powder, are nutrient-rich, vegan and gluten-free. In addition, they obtained “Upcycled” certification in 2022, guaranteeing high quality standards and maximizing the use of surplus from their farms.
Fight against Malnutrition:
In 2021, AgroAmerica launched the Bana-Nutrition “Eat Well, Live Well” program to combat child malnutrition in Guatemala, where 50% of children suffer from it. The program focuses on reducing acute malnutrition in children aged six months to five years by transforming bananas into flour and promoting its use as a nutritional supplement in children’s diets. It is implemented in 60 rural communities and collaborates with the national initiative “Gran Cruzada por la Nutrición” (Great Crusade for Nutrition) of the Central Government of Guatemala. AgroAmerica also donates bananas to rural schools and provides training for mothers on food safety.
Commitments from all:
I extend an invitation to all companies in the food sector to contribute with actions and programs aimed at achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger. I also urge citizens to be aware and avoid food waste. May this World Food Day not remain mere words but be translated into concrete commitments.