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Nourishing the Planet Worldwatch Institute Project on Hunger and Poverty Alleviation Danielle Nierenberg Senior Researcher, Worldwatch Institute [email protected] http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/ www.worldwatch.org Nourishing the Planet Part I: The Crossroads Source: Bernard Pollack Global Hunger • More than 1 billion people were hungry in 2009, the highest number in history • Another 1 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, including Vitamin A, Iron, and Zinc • Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest hunger and malnutrition rates in the world Source: World Bank Global Hunger • Since 2005, food prices have increased 50 to 80 percent in developing countries • Funding for agricultural development has dropped significantly over the last decade Source: New Agriculturist Green Revolution Legacy World population has almost doubled since the 1960s, but farmers have raised production enough to feed an additional 2 billion people with adequate diets Source: World Bank Green Revolution Legacy World Grain Production, 1961–2007 2,500 Million Tons 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 Source: FAO 0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Green Revolution Legacy Most increases in food production have been achieved through high-input, intensive, and industrial agriculture that is: – heavily dependent on fossil fuels and agro-chemicals Resulting in: – – – – Pollution Decrease in biodiversity Uneven distribution of food Loss of livelihoods for small holders Source: EcoAgriculture Partners, Jones Aviation Investments in Agriculture • Investments in agricultural development— by governments, international lenders, and foundations—are at historic lows • Only 4 percent of official development assistance has been invested in agriculture over the last 15 years, and few donors have increased their commitments since 2000 Investments in Agriculture Source: World Bank Investments in Agricultural Development Shrinking • In 2008, U.S. assistance for agricultural development worldwide slipped to its lowest level in a decade, constituting just 2 percent of U.S. foreign aid to sub-Saharan Africa • World Bank investment has decreased in recent years, threatening rural livelihoods www.worldwatch.org