Abstract

Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve
nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Despite substantial progress in many parts
of the world, hunger and malnutrition continue to affect millions, particularly in low- and
middle-income countries. SDG 2 addresses the complex factors contributing to food
insecurity, including poverty, climate change, and conflict. The goal emphasizes the
importance of ensuring access to nutritious food for all, promoting agricultural practices
that are both resilient and sustainable, and ensuring the stability of food systems. By
focusing on inclusive, equitable, and sustainable solutions, SDG 2 aims to eradicate hunger
and malnutrition by 2030, while strengthening the resilience of agricultural systems and
increasing productivity in a way that can sustain future generations.

Introduction
Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) is one of the 17 global goals established by the
United Nations in 2015 to address the world's most pressing challenges by 2030. At the
heart of SDG 2 is the objective to eradicate hunger and ensure that all people, especially the
most vulnerable, have access to sufficient and nutritious food. In 2023, it was estimated that
nearly 735 million people worldwide were undernourished, while billions suffer from
hidden hunger, due to micronutrient deficiencies. This goal is inextricably linked to other
SDGs, such as poverty reduction, gender equality, and climate action, as food insecurity is
often a result of systemic issues such as poverty, environmental degradation, and conflict.
Furthermore, sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems are essential to ensuring
food security for future generations. Achieving SDG 2 requires a multi-faceted approach,
involving cooperation between governments, international organizations, the private
sector, and civil society, to foster sustainable practices and policies that promote equitable
access to food and improve nutrition outcomes worldwide.

Hunger
Hunger is a short-term physical discomfort resulting from chronic food shortages. Despite
the world producing enough food to feed everyone, many men and women across the globe
struggle daily to provide their children with nutritious meals. The top food-producing
countries are China, India, the US, and Brazil. However, hunger persists due to a range of
causes including poverty, natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, droughts), political and
economic instability, diminishing natural resources, food shortages and waste, wars, and
job instability.

Statistical Analysis
As of 2023, the world population reached 8.2 billion, with 733 million people not having
enough food to lead a healthy life. The vast majority of hungry people reside in developing
countries. Alarmingly, one child dies every 10 seconds from hunger. Each year, 2.4 million
children under the age of five die due to poor nutrition. About 9.1% of the global population
is undernourished, and 66 million school-aged children attend classes hungry. The World
Food Programme (WFP) estimates that $3.2 billion is needed annually to feed all 66 million
hungry children.

Zero Hunger
Zero Hunger is a global initiative by the World Food Programme aimed at preventing food
waste and creating a hunger-free world. As the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting
hunger, WFP plays a crucial role in this effort. The Zero Hunger Challenge was launched in
June 2012 by UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who envisioned a world without
hunger by 2030. The challenge aims to ensure access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food
for all people, especially the vulnerable, throughout the year.

Prevention
Ending poverty is essential. By creating jobs, people can earn income and gain access to
food. Investment in and implementation of agricultural programs, along with promoting
gender equality, can raise household incomes and reduce hunger.

To end malnutrition, it's important to educate people on the importance of food and
nutrition. Using modern agricultural techniques can increase food production. Governments
should implement programs to provide healthy food to infants and pregnant women and
enforce global public health and disease control measures.

Food donation is a simple and effective way to combat hunger. Several mobile apps now
facilitate food donations, such as Food for the Hungry, Action Against Hunger PH, UNICEF,
and the Philippine Food Bank Foundation.

Supporting small farmers by providing them with training and assistance from
governments and NGOs is key to future food security. Consumers can also support this
cause by purchasing organic and locally grown food.

Biotechnology can help in producing climate-resilient crops that yield more and withstand
droughts and floods. Techniques like gene splicing help improve crop resilience.

Sustainable agriculture is necessary to produce enough food without harming ecological

Agricultural subsidies, or financial assistance provided by governments, ensure food

Everyone has a role to play: avoid wasting food, financially stable individuals should help
the needy, and healthy individuals can volunteer. Achieving a hunger-free world by 2030
requires cooperation among governments, citizens, civil society organizations, and the
private sector to invest in and create lasting solutions.