Global Report On Food Crises 2019

• 08 Apr 2019

Why is it in News?

The Global Report on Food Crises 2019 was jointly released by Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

Key Highlights of Report:

• As per the report, approximately 113 million people in 53 countries experienced high levels of food insecurity last year. These crises were primarily driven by conflict and climate-related factors.
• The two-third (66.66%) of the total number of people facing acute food crisis were in 8 countries namely- Yemen, Congo, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria, Sudan and North Nigeria.
• The report also provides a short-term forecast of food insecurity in 2019.

What is the Need of Hour?

• The report calls for increased collaboration to end conflicts, empower women, feed and educate children, improve rural infrastructure, and reinforce social safety nets in order to address the root causes of food crises caused by man-made shocks such as conflict and civil unrest.

Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO):

• The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. It was founded on 16^th October, 1945.
• Their goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.
• It is headquartered in Rome,Italy.

Codex Alimentarius/ Food Code:

It was established by the FAO and WHO to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade.

The Codex Alimentarius, or ‘Food Code’ is a collection of internationally adopted food standards presented in a uniform manner. The main purpose is to maintain the hygiene and ensuring fair practices in food trade. These food codes deter the adulteration of food material.

Source: www.fao.org