The Food and Agriculture Organization's annual observance of World Food Day on 16 October draws global attention to the approximately 850 million people worldwide who are undernourished. This year's events focus on "investing in agriculture for food security," in addition to the needs for improving education and health systems.

Declining foreign aid for agriculture, civil strife, and the impacts of droughts, floods, and hurricanes have placed 40 countries worldwide at risk of food emergencies according to a recent FAO publication on global food security. Globally, cereal production for 2006 is expected to decrease by almost 8 million metric tons from a year ago.

This recent report identifies the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region as the most critical food security issue, but finds that 26 countries in Africa, as well as parts of Asia and Central America, face signficant food shortages. This is due to a variety of reasons, including

-- conflict-related migrations
-- poor infrastructure
-- rampant unemployment
-- the impacts of HIV/AIDS, and
-- unfair markets.

Somalia and Zimbabwe are expected to have 1.8 million and 1.4 million inhabitants, respectively, in need of additional food supplies in the coming months.

Small-scale farmers constitute the majority of the global agricultural sector, and are particularly important in developing countries. The impacts of climate change and political and social unrest may place these farmers in an increasingly precarious state, where food security and income for themselves and their families are extremely difficult to attain.

RELATED LINKS:

World Food Day 2006 Official Site

FAO Hunger Map

FAO's Crop Prospects and Food Situation report

EarthTrends:

Data on cereals production and trade, livestock, and food aid

September 2006 Monthly Update: Can a Green Revolution Catalyze African Development?

Food and Agriculture Data Table

Disappearing Food: How Big are Postharvest Losses?

Inexhaustible Appetites: Testing the Limits of Agroecosystems