World HungerWorld Hunger

Fred Boadu, PhD; J.D. (Law)Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, College Station

OutlineOutline Basic DefinitionsBasic Definitions

The Location of the HungryThe Location of the Hungry Overview – The factsOverview – The facts

Grain Production and Demand - 2020Grain Production and Demand - 2020 Factors influencing Food SupplyFactors influencing Food Supply

Land, Labor, Capital, TechnologyLand, Labor, Capital, Technology Other Supply ShiftersOther Supply Shifters

Factors influencing Food DemandFactors influencing Food Demand Income, PriceIncome, Price

Role of InstitutionsRole of Institutions Government, International OrganizationsGovernment, International Organizations

ConclusionsConclusions Millennium Development Goals, Indicators Millennium Development Goals, Indicators

Basic DefinitionsBasic Definitions

MalnutritionMalnutrition is a general term that indicates a lack of some or is a general term that indicates a lack of some or all nutritional elements necessary for human health. (Medline Plus all nutritional elements necessary for human health. (Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia). Medical Encyclopedia).

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM)Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is by far the is by far the most lethal form of malnutrition/hunger and the one referred to when most lethal form of malnutrition/hunger and the one referred to when world hunger is referred to. Children are its most visible victims. world hunger is referred to. Children are its most visible victims. Malnutrition plays a role in at least half of the 10.9 million child Malnutrition plays a role in at least half of the 10.9 million child deaths each year (FAO, 2002).deaths each year (FAO, 2002).

Food InsecurityFood Insecurity is when people must live with hunger and is when people must live with hunger and fear of starvation (FAO).fear of starvation (FAO).

Child Malnutrition Undernourishment

Regional Proportions

Overview – The FactsOverview – The Facts Over 800 million people go to bed hungry each night; most of Over 800 million people go to bed hungry each night; most of

them are women and children, World Food Programme (WFP).them are women and children, World Food Programme (WFP).

Grain Production and Demand - 2020

Table 1: Growth Rates of Population and Total Cereal Demand, 1967 - 1997

Table 2: Per Capita Cereal Production and Annual Growth Rates in Developing-country Regions, 1967-1997

Table 3: Per Capita Meat Demand 1967 and 1997

Some Microeconomics

Households, Firms, and Hunger

Factors Influencing Food DemandFactors Influencing Food Demand

IncomeIncome Per Capita IncomePer Capita Income

PricePrice

Other Demand ShiftersOther Demand Shifters PopulationPopulation Household SizeHousehold Size Household ExpenditureHousehold Expenditure

Table 4: Population and Per Capita GDP 1967 and 2020

Table 4: Population and Per Capita GDP 1967 and 2020 Contd.

Table 5: People Living on Less Than $1 and $2 a DaySince 1990 and Projected to 2015

 

Table 6: Income Demand Elasticities, 1967 and 2020

Factors Influencing Food SupplyFactors Influencing Food Supply LandLand LaborLabor CapitalCapital TechnologyTechnology

Other Supply ShiftersOther Supply Shifters Land rights and ownership Land rights and ownership Diversion of land use to non-productive use Diversion of land use to non-productive use PricePrice Inefficient agricultural practices Inefficient agricultural practices Governance Governance

Lack of Democracy and RightsLack of Democracy and Rights PoliticsPolitics

Conflict, Drought, FamineConflict, Drought, Famine

Table 11: Total Projected Investments, Baseline Scenario, 1997-2020

Supply ShiftersSupply Shifters Poverty is the principal cause of hunger. ““There are 1.2 There are 1.2

billion poor people in developing countries who live on $1 a day or less. billion poor people in developing countries who live on $1 a day or less. Progress in poverty reduction has been concentrated in Asia, and Progress in poverty reduction has been concentrated in Asia, and especially, East Asia. In all the other regions, the number of people in especially, East Asia. In all the other regions, the number of people in extreme poverty has increased. In sub-Saharan Africa, there were 58 million extreme poverty has increased. In sub-Saharan Africa, there were 58 million more poor people in 1999 than in 1990 (Food and Agriculture Organization more poor people in 1999 than in 1990 (Food and Agriculture Organization – FAO, 2002).” – FAO, 2002).”

Hunger is also a cause of poverty.Hunger is also a cause of poverty. By leading to such effects By leading to such effects as poor health, low levels of energy, and even mental impairment, hunger as poor health, low levels of energy, and even mental impairment, hunger can lead to even greater poverty (FAO 2002).can lead to even greater poverty (FAO 2002).

Conflict as a cause of hunger. ““Worldwide, there were some Worldwide, there were some 21.5 million refugees and displaced persons in 1999– largely as a result of 21.5 million refugees and displaced persons in 1999– largely as a result of wars, political turbulence, civil conflict and social unrest (e.g. Afghanistan, wars, political turbulence, civil conflict and social unrest (e.g. Afghanistan, the Balkans, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, East Timor, Somalia the Balkans, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, East Timor, Somalia and Sudan). In such emergencies, malnutrition runs rampant, exponentially and Sudan). In such emergencies, malnutrition runs rampant, exponentially increasing the risk of disease and death (World Health Organization 2002).” increasing the risk of disease and death (World Health Organization 2002).”

Factors affecting Food Shortages

Role of InstitutionsRole of Institutions

GovernmentGovernment Freedom and DemocracyFreedom and Democracy Intellectual Property RightsIntellectual Property Rights

Patents – World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)Patents – World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

International OrganizationsInternational Organizations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) World and Food Programme (WFP)World and Food Programme (WFP) World BankWorld Bank World Health Organization (WHO)World Health Organization (WHO) Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research

(CGIAR) – IITA, CIMMYT, IFPRI, ILRI etc.(CGIAR) – IITA, CIMMYT, IFPRI, ILRI etc.

Table 12: Annual Freedom in the World Country Scores, 2000-2001: Africa

ConclusionConclusion Millennium Development GoalsMillennium Development Goals

Goal 1 -Goal 1 - Eradicate extreme poverty and hungerEradicate extreme poverty and hunger Target 1:Target 1: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of

people whose income is less than $1 a day.people whose income is less than $1 a day. Target 2:Target 2: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of

people who suffer from hunger.people who suffer from hunger.

IndicatorsIndicators Proportion of population below $1 a day a Proportion of population below $1 a day a National poverty headcount ratio* National poverty headcount ratio* Poverty gap ratio at $1 a day Poverty gap ratio at $1 a day (incidence x depth of poverty)(incidence x depth of poverty) Share of poorest quintile in national consumptionShare of poorest quintile in national consumption Prevalence of underweight in children (under five years of age) Prevalence of underweight in children (under five years of age) Proportion of population below minimum level of dietary energy Proportion of population below minimum level of dietary energy

consumption consumption

Source: Source: http://www.developmentgoals.org/About_the_goals.htm

Table 13: Progress Toward the Poverty Goal and Projections to 2015