Food prices
The United Nations identified the COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts and weather shocks as reasons for more people facing hunger in recent years. They estimate that over 700 million people faced hunger in 2022. They also estimate that three billion people could not afford a healthy diet in the same year. This is just under ten percent of the Worldâs population. The United Nations report that one third adults that live in rural areas experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. Around one quarter did in urban areas.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) records the The average. prices of five key products: cereals, vegetable oils, dairy, meat and sugar. They compare this with different factors and produce an annual report called 'The state of food insecurity in the world,' which the graphs below come from.
Question
Describe any trends you can in this data over time. Use numbers in your answer. [4 marks]
The highest percentage of undernourished people in all three time periods was in sub-Saharan Africa (1 mark). In 1990 to 1992 it was 33%, in 2014 to 2016 it was 23% and in 2018-20 it was 21.8% (1 mark). The greatest reduction in percentage undernourished between these dates is in South-Eastern Asia which was 31% and now is 7.1% (1 mark). All areas showed a reduction except Oceania and Western Asia which have increased in the latest data (1 mark).
A country is in crisis if a significant part of the All of the members of a single species that live within a geographical area. is vulnerable to death or disease.
Question
What is the relationship between countries in crisis and all developing countries? Use numbers in your answer.
In both 2005 to 2007 and 2010 to 2012 the prevalence of undernourished people was much higher in countries in crisis than other developing countries. It is about 39% rather around 15%. Undernourishment is therefore over twice as likely in countries in crisis. An alternative answer: In developing countries and in China and India, undernourishment has reduced from 2005 to 2010 by an average of 1.5% whereas in countries in crisis it has increased by 0.5%.