Food and nutrition

A severely malnourished child feeds himself nutritionally balanced milk. Picture: Gonzalo Höhr/Action Against Hunger A malnourished child feeds himself nutritionally balanced milk. Picture: Gonzalo Höhr/Action Against Hunger

Around 925 million people globally face hunger and a further one billion are undernourished. Without action these numbers will grow dramatically.

By 2050, the world will be faced with the challenge of feeding another two billion citizens as the world's population is likely to reach nine billion. The subsequent impact on the food security of millions of people will be huge, as the demand for food rises in a world of limited resources.

The challenge of meeting this demand in a sustainable way is enormous. Taking into account the effects of more frequent and extreme weather events, such as flooding and drought, the challenge grows even more serious.

The Foresight report on the Future of Food and Farming published in 2010 emphasised a need for change. The food production system will need to be radically overhauled, not just to produce more food but to produce it sustainably and fairly to ensure that the poorest people have the access to food that they need.

By 2015 we will…

  • Help more than six million of the world's poorest people to escape extreme poverty
  • Stop 20 million more pregnant and breastfeeding women and children going hungry
  • Ensure another four million people have enough food throughout the year

In Depth

Food security

Food security

DFID is helping support and feed people around the world who cannot meet their basic food needs

Agriculture

Agriculture

Many poor people in developing countries – as many as 7 out of 10 people in Africa – rely on agriculture for a living

International commitments

International commitments

Our work with the G8, G20 and the New Alliance for Food and Nutrition Security

Nutrition

Nutrition

Poor nutrition and stunting remain a problem in many developing countries

Hunger emergencies

Hunger emergencies

DFID’s humanitarian support has helped to provide emergency food aid in developing and famine affected countries

Food and nutrition research

Food and nutrition research

Research on the underlying causes of hunger and malnutrition