Ending hunger and malnutrition is a complex challenge with a growing world population, increasing consumption of high protein foods and increased scarcity of natural resources under pressure of a changing climate. Sustainable development goal 2 (SDG2) therefore aims to achieve a set of interrelated goals, to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and raise the productivity of small-scale food producers and food systems in a way that contributes to the preservation of ecosystems, enhances resilience to climate change and improves land and soil quality. To achieve these interrelated goals, and get on track to reach SDG2, a systems approach is needed, linking SDG2 to other Sustainable Development Goals.
Food Systems Transformation
The world is not on track to reach sustainable development goal 2 - Zero hunger. After decades of decline, the number of people suffering from food insecurity and malnutrition is increasing again since 2014. Current projections estimate that this will exceed 840 million by 2030. Much of the recent increase in food insecurity can be attributed to a greater number of conflicts, aggravated by climate-related shocks. Economic slowdowns and the Covid-19 crisis further threaten access to nutritious food.
We address bottlenecks as food systems challenges
Netherlands Food Partnership aims to increase the quality of Dutch efforts for SDG2 by focusing on four food systems challenges where SDG2 subgoals and critical political, socio-economic and ecological themes come together as serious bottlenecks for SDG2 progress. Addressing these bottlenecks as food system challenges, creates the space for interventions to work on coherent targets around key leverage points from an integrated perspective. In such a way, Netherlands Food Partnership shifts from a siloed approach based on thematic areas with their own targets and ambitions towards a longer-term perspective where balanced food systems outcomes are taken into account.
