By José Graziano da Silva | 16/12/2024

Global food security and obesity are deeply intertwined issues, especially in the face of current climate change. Data from the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 report reveal a worrying paradox: while millions still face hunger and malnutrition, others suffer from the growing impact of obesity, reflecting the coexistence of food insecurity and unhealthy diets.

In 2023, according to FAO estimates based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), 2.33 billion people faced difficulties in accessing adequate food on a regular basis. Of these, 864 million faced severe food insecurity, meaning they ate nothing during the reference period of the interview. Add to this the fact that almost 3 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2022. This scenario reflects not only economic inequalities but also the impact of rising food prices. In Brazil, where the average cost of a healthy diet is US$3.35 per day, around 48 million people remain without access to adequate food.

The accelerated urbanisation we are experiencing is exacerbating these challenges. With two-thirds of the world’s population expected to live in urban areas by 2030, cities present greater difficulties in ensuring food security due to the high cost of living and the widespread availability of ultra-processed foods, which, although more affordable, are harmful to health. This dependence on industrialised foods has contributed to the alarming rise in global obesity, with projections that more than 3.3 billion adults will have high body mass indices by 2035. The consequences of this epidemic are devastating, causing 5 million deaths annually and representing an estimated economic cost of US$4.32 trillion by 2035.

Chile’s experience over several years, with policies such as the use of front-of-package warning labels on food—an initiative led by then-Senator Guido Girardi—offers an example of how regulation can transform eating habits. Available evaluations show that this strategy has significantly reduced the consumption of products high in sugars, sodium and saturated fats. Brazil, however, facing a high prevalence of obesity (more than 25% of the population), has only this year adopted the use of “front seals”. The country must now make progress in integrating this issue into universal health policies, as well as expanding access to healthy diets. This comes at a time when the much-heralded tax reform—aimed at taxing ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks to stimulate the production and consumption of fruit, vegetables and legumes—is unlikely to meet expectations due to resistance from food industry lobbies.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, the European Commission and the European Parliament have failed to establish regional standards to increase taxes on sugary drinks and encourage the production and consumption of vegetables. Nonetheless, several countries have taken action at a national level. Measures such as the implementation of taxes on sugary drinks have already been adopted in at least 10 countries in the region, including Belgium, France, Portugal, Hungary and the United Kingdom. These measures have explicit aims of promoting public health and reducing the consumption of sugar-rich products.

In addition, in recent years, several European countries have increased subsidies to encourage the consumption of fruit, vegetables and legumes (FVL) as part of strategies to promote healthier diets and combat obesity. The European Union’s School Programme, for example, allocates funds for the free distribution of fruit, vegetables and milk in schools, reaching millions of children across the region. Similarly, countries such as Austria and Germany offer direct subsidies for the purchase of fresh FVL, with incentives of up to €3.25 per kilo, making these foods more accessible to families.

This initiative reflects a coordinated effort to integrate public health and food policies, with the aim of reducing the consumption of ultra-processed foods. It is estimated that increased consumption of FVL contributes to the prevention of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, while also improving eating habits from childhood onwards.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the panorama is more heterogeneous. According to data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in 2021, 21 countries apply excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), with a lower proportion in the Caribbean (6 out of 13, with no available data for Haiti) compared to Latin America (15 out of 19). Eleven countries still have no special tax on SSBs, including Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and most Caribbean countries.

Measures such as taxing these products have been adopted to reduce consumption and prevent diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Countries such as Mexico, Chile and Barbados stand out for leading these initiatives, which have had a positive impact on reducing the purchase of sugary drinks and encouraging healthier choices.

In this respect, there is also promising news from the United States: Senator Bernie Sanders has prioritised the fight against the harmful impacts of ultra-processed foods in the final phase of his remarkable legislative career. Sanders rightly highlighted Chile’s exemplary progress with front-of-package warning labels, a policy spearheaded by Senator Guido Girardi. This innovative measure has already delivered significant results, with recent studies indicating a substantial reduction in obesity rates, especially among children, proving the effectiveness of bold, well-founded initiatives.

At the same time, climate change is intensifying food challenges. Global agricultural productivity has declined by 21% in recent decades in tropical and subtropical regions, while extreme weather events such as droughts and floods are driving up food prices and reducing their nutritional quality. Studies also show that high levels of carbon dioxide negatively affect fruits and vegetables, reducing their nutrients and altering their appearance, which discourages consumption and compromises public health.

Here in Morocco, where I am participating in the Future Congress in collaboration with the Chilean Parliament, I will address the interconnection of these issues. Morocco also offers an interesting example in family farming: the Maroc Vert initiative—led by then Minister of Agriculture and now Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch—supported small farmers in transitioning to the cultivation of fruit trees on 1 million hectares, strengthening resilience to climate change while offering healthier food options.

Despite the critical role of agri-food systems in mitigating and adapting to climate change, less than 4% of global climate finance is allocated to these areas. This highlights a severe gap in resource allocation, considering that resilient food systems are essential for both tackling climate change and eradicating hunger. The upcoming COP30, to be held in Brazil, represents a unique opportunity to integrate food security into climate negotiations and align global efforts with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

With the commitment of governments, international organisations and civil society, it is possible to transform agri-food systems into drivers of equity, sustainability and global health.

The fight against hunger and obesity requires integrated actions that combine sustainable production with inclusive public policies and greater access to healthy food. This is a decisive moment to guarantee a fairer and more sustainable future, where no one is left behind.

Download the presentation “Global Food Security and Obesity Seminar, Marocco 2024“