Our Scans · (LF.2) Zero Hunger · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

• [New] El Nino is a massive threat to the food security of millions who are already vulnerable. UN News
• [New] A new multi-institution study featuring researchers from the University of Washington finds that the global decline of insect pollinators poses a growing threat to human nutrition, health and livelihoods. Population Health
• [New] Disruptions to shipping in the Black Sea caused by Ukrainian attacks on dry cargo vessels and port infrastructure pose a direct threat to global food security. MarineLink
• [New] Globally, up to 40% of the Earth's land is degraded, affecting nearly half of humanity and threatening food security, biodiversity and economic development. UNCCD
• [New] Impact on Livelihoods & Infrastructure: States like Karnataka (with 10 Western Ghats districts and 23.4% of its population living there) argue that ESA bans will stall agriculture, shade-grown plantations, and critical regional infrastructure. Insights IAS
• The UNSDG2 aims to end hunger, and achieve food and nutrition security within a sustainable agricultural system by 2030. PubMed Central (PMC)
• There is a need for transformational innovation within the existing food system to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 of ending hunger within a sustainable agricultural system by 2030. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Given the increasing projections of food-insecure population by 2030 worldwide, revealing the underlying characteristics of successful agri-food exports is urgently needed as it will ensure progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. Nature
• World hunger and food insecurity are inextricably linked between social inequality and access to healthy food options; therefore, the key to replacing ASFs within the food system will be the availability and affordability of any alternative protein source. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Coming on top of wars in key supply regions like Ukraine and the Strait of Hormuz, any negative impacts that El Nino might have on agriculture and fishing could contribute to rising world prices and food poverty. Travel Tomorrow
• Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian ships and ports could shut down grain exports via the Black Sea in the near future, pushing up prices and causing hunger in Africa and the Middle East. MarineLink
• The next decade will see global agriculture measured not by acres, but by liters of water saved, kilowatt-hours conserved, and the volume of produce grown per square foot. BusinessLine
• Middle East and Africa are projected to witness steady growth due to the increasing adoption of water-efficient farming technologies, controlled environment agriculture, and climate-resilient agricultural practices in response to harsh climatic conditions. Market Data Forecast
• Iran's attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have put a stranglehold on exports of oil and raw materials for fertiliser, sending energy prices soaring and raising the risk of a food security crisis in some of the world's most vulnerable countries. Al Jazeera
• An emergency agriculture bill passed by the French parliament on Tuesday, which facilitates the construction of water storage tanks for crop irrigation and livestock farms, has raised concerns over the equitable sharing of water resources and fears that farmers are being prioritised. The Guardian
• The Russian Ministry of Agriculture claimed that the situation in the Sea of Azov will not affect the domestic food supply or Russia's agricultural export capacity. Critical Threats
• At particular risk are countries that do not have national data privacy laws, such as Liberia, whose memorandum of understanding requires interlinked and interoperable data systems for surveillance, laboratory, response, health, environment, agriculture. Techdirt
• The global population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050, increasing fertilizer demand by nearly 50% to ensure food security. Persistence Market Research
• The 2026 Middle East conflict, along with weather extremes and the reductions in official development assistance and humanitarian funding, are threatening to undermine the progress made to end global hunger. World Health Organization: WHO
• The crisis around the Strait of Hormuz will have an effect on food production, crop yields and hunger. UN News
• There are 2.69 billion people unable to afford a diverse diet that meets their energy and nutrient needs, and it will take immense amounts of work to achieve the global target of zero hunger by 2030. The Guardian
• More than 80% of drought impacts on agriculture globally are projected to hit low- and middle-income countries. Mapshock

Last updated: 10 August 2026