“UN Women”/P. Tongkin Based on 22 indicators, less than a third of countries will be able to meet their targets by 2030. Most countries will not be able to transform their food systems by 2030 Economic Development
Most of the world’s countries will fail to meet international food systems targets by 2030. This was reported today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). FAO experts refer to data from a new study published in the journal Nature Food.
The analysis covered 197 countries and 44 indicators related to nutrition, health, environment and living standards. According to the report, most countries have achieved only one of 30 key indicators – high mobile penetration. Across 22 indicators, less than a third of countries will meet their targets by 2030.
Greenhouse gas emissions from food systems remain one of the biggest challenges. The path to the target level in this area is only a quarter completed, and not a single country will be able to achieve the goal at the current pace of change. Thus, Africa needs an annual improvement of at least 15-20 percent in 23 indicators, and Asia needs a reduction in food insecurity of more than 63 percent each year.
High-income regions are also no exception. In Europe, at current rates, 19 targets will not be achieved by 2030.
“Transforming food systems requires accelerating progress – without this, achievements risk remaining decorative. We can no longer afford to continue at the current pace,” said Mario Herrero, a professor at the School of Global Development and the Environment at Cornell University.
The study also found positive trends: Across seven indicators, at least a third of countries are already on track to meet the 2030 goals; half of all indicators at the global level show positive dynamics. They say these are the factors that can drive progress in all other areas of food policy.
The report’s authors call on the international community to step up efforts, focusing on access to healthy diets, combating food insecurity, improving governance and reducing emissions from food systems. According to their assessment, without accelerating reforms, many global goals will have to be postponed until 2050.