How many will be hungry?

The answer to that question will depend on all of us.

31 October 2011 is being marked as the day on which the global population will reach 7 billion. But it won’t stop there; the human population is expected to top 9 billion by 2050. To meet the needs of increasing numbers of people, food availability will have to grow by 70 per cent.

But at the same time, in developing countries – where most of the world’s hungry people are – the scope for expanding the total area under cultivation is very limited. And that spells more hunger, unless we take action now.

There are around 500 million small farms in the world, providing up to 80 per cent of the food consumed in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Investment in agriculture must be increased so that these farmers can raise their productivity and improve their livelihoods, because we will continue to rely on them to feed a large part of humanity. With a rising population, more people will depend on small farms for their food.

The earth can support a population of 7 billion people; the question is whether there is support for the actions needed to ensure that they all have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Around 1 billion people go hungry every day. This is intolerable. And yet, while the world’s population keeps rising, attention to problems of food security has been inadequate.

The UNFPA’s “7 Billion Actions” campaign is trying to build global awareness of the challenges and opportunities presented by a world of 7 billion people, and also inspire governments, NGOs, the private sector, media, academia and individuals “to take actions that will have a socially positive impact”.

Adding your voice, your ideas, your stories and a photo . You can also draw attention to those who can’t because of lack of access.

Half of the chronically undernourished in the world are poor rural people for whom agriculture is an essential source of food, income and employment.  Smallholder farmers need more secure access to land and water, as well as to financial services in order to pay for seed, tools and fertilizer. They need better functioning and more reliable markets that provide an incentive to invest in improving production, with less risk. They also need roads and transportation to get their products to market, and access to technology for up-to-date and reliable market information. With better access to domestic and international markets, they can reliably sell more produce at higher prices. This in turn would encourage farmers to invest in their businesses and increase the quantity, quality and diversity of the goods they produce. But to gain a footing in these markets small producers often need support.

Women make up a large proportion of the developing world’s farmers, but have significantly less access to resources than men. They are held back by a variety of barriers, including lack of education and unequal property rights. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are essential for economic growth, social stability and food security.  

Who will feed tomorrow’s people? Future food security depends critically on whether rural areas provide opportunities for young people, both on the farm and off. Agriculture must be a viable and attractive option, and young entrepreneurs must be provided with finance and other resources so that they can grow small businesses and build communities they want to live in. Dynamic regional towns and small cities can provide widespread market opportunities, helping build income and relieve poverty, in a way that mega-cities don’t.  If we don’t invest now in rural development, more young people will abandon rural areas, often ending up in urban slums. That could be devastating for their lives, as well as for future food security.

At a time when famine is claiming thousands of lives, feeding the human population – 7 billion strong, and counting – is a more pressing issue than ever.