SDG 2: Aiming for a sustainable future and zero hunger

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to achieve sustainable Development. The primary purpose is to transform our world into a better place with no poverty and zero hunger, protect the planet, and ensure everyone will enjoy peace and prosperity until 2030. According to the United Nations, the global population is 8 billion, continuously growing. According to studies, by 2030, it will be over 8.5 billion, and by 2050 will reach 9.7 billion. This significant population growth will pressure the food industry as the number of people living on the edge of poverty, malnutrition, and hunger continues to rise. More than 828 million people are malnourished and do not have access to food products (FAO, 2022). This is why the SDGs, specifically SDG 2, need to be globally established. 

Agriculture and food production are inextricably linked to malnutrition, poverty, energy and water use, environmental pollution, and climate change. By implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in the agricultural sector, we will be able to meet the demands of our time and eliminate hunger.

What are the SDGs?

The Sustainable Development Goals are a collection of seventeen interlinked targets. They are the following: 

1. No poverty (SDG 1)
2. Zero hunger (SDG 2)
3. Good health and well-being (SDG 3)
4. Quality education (SDG 4) 
5. Gender equality (SDG 5)
6. Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) 
7. Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) 
8. Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) 
9. Industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9) 
10. Reduced inequalities (SDG 10) 
11. Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) 
12. Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) 
13. Climate action (SDG 13) 
14. Life below water (SDG 14) 
15. Life on land (SDG 15) 
16. Peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16) 
17. Partnerships for the goals (SDG 17)

The 17 SDGs mentioned above are divided into 169 sub-objectives, and 231 indicators have been created for data transfer. Many of the above objectives are directly or indirectly linked to agricultural production. Target number two is the main one that will make the farm production sector sustainable.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

By 2030, due to continuous population growth and the consequences of climate change, more than 900 million people will be facing hunger and malnutrition. That is why it is necessary to take immediate measures to increase global food production and reduce losses. By creating a sustainable food production chain, we will ensure access and sufficiency of food worldwide. By 2030, SDG2 focuses on a world free of hunger and is separated into five significant targets:

2.1 End hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.

2.2 End all forms of malnutrition.

2.3 Increase small-scale food producers’ agricultural productivity and incomes, particularly women, family farmers, indigenous people, pastoralists, and fishers.

2.4 Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production.

2.5 Maintain the genetic diversity of plants and animals.

There are nine indicators of sdg2, which help data gathering related to the progress:

• SDG indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment.
• SDG indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of food insecurity.
• SDG indicator 2.2.1: Prevalence of childhood stunting.
• SDG indicator 2.2.2: Prevalence of childhood malnutrition. 
• SDG indicator 2.3.1: Production per labor unit.
• SDG indicator 2.3.2: Income of small-scale food producers.
• SDG indicator 2.4.1: Agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture
• SDG indicator 2.5.1: Genetic resources in conservation facilities.
• SDG indicator 2.5.2: Local breeds at risk of extinction.

What is the course of SDG 2: Zero hunger?

According to statistics, the implementation of SDG 2 has increased production worldwide. The area under organic crops was increasing, and in third-world countries, the species grown had been expanded, increasing cultivated size and productivity. In Greece, according to a study by ELSTAT  (2023), which covered 2013-2020, there appeared to be a slight but gradual increase in productivity and income of small farmers and women and an increase in the area under organic farming.

However, the COVID-19 epidemic, the war in Ukraine, and the extreme weather conditions have dramatically changed these facts. Now, 10% of the world’s people need access to food, commodity prices are constantly rising, and one in three people need to be adequately fed. As the 2020 and beyond data show, the progress made in 2015-2019 has been lost, and food crisis rates have increased. 

Now, more than ever, we need to focus on the Objectives. 

Sustainable Development, for sustainable Development and food sufficiency. The demand for food will continue to grow. More effort must be made at the state and individual levels to ensure that hunger is eradicated, food security in production and consumption, and sustainable development. It is essential to increase subsidies for organic farming, provide information and training for farmers on good agricultural practices, provide state aid for research and Development of new techniques and products, and reduce food losses. Finally, it is equally essential to provide financial support for young farmers, women, and small-scale farmers so that more people can switch to agricultural production and increase their income. 

References:

• The Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2022. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Statistics Division at https://unstats.un.org/sdgs.
• Εθνική Εθελοντική Έκθεση Αξιολόγησης για τη Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη, 2022. At https://gsco.gov.gr/sdgs/.
• ΕΛΣΤΑΤ. Έρευνα Διάρθρωσης Γεωργικών και Κτηνοτροφικών Εκμεταλλεύσεων για τα έτη 2013 και 2016 και Απογραφή Γεωργίας – Κτηνοτροφίας για το έτος 2020.
• National Voluntary Assessment Report on Sustainable Development, 2022.