Blog by Liliana Mosca, SI Representative to the United Nations in Rome
As per the the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, published on July 21, 2026, by five UN agencies, global hunger fell for the third consecutive year last year. Nonetheless, around 7.8 percent of the global population faced hunger in 2025, a decrease from 8.6 percent in 2022—43 million fewer individuals suffering from hunger globally. While there are variations in hunger levels across different regions, a consistent decline from 2024 to 2025 was noted universally, including, for the first time in ten years, in Africa. This indicates that approximately 645 million individuals experienced hunger in 2025, which is a decrease of almost 14 million from 2024 and 43 million from 2022, yet still significantly distant from eradicating global hunger by 2030.
Despite gradual progress in combatting hunger, the international community must still confront the challenge of expensive nutritious diets, which are unaffordable for approximately 2.7 billion people worldwide, particularly deteriorating in Africa. The high prices of nutrient-dense foods – especially animal-based products, alongside fruits and vegetables – account for nearly 70 percent of the costs related to healthy diets.
The SOFI report highlights the link between food security and wider issues like poverty alleviation, health, and environmental sustainability. It necessitates immediate, collaborative action among governments, international bodies, and civil society to adopt measures that improve food system resilience and ensure fair nutrition.
The 2026 SOFI report highlights that the advancement in eliminating hunger and malnutrition is still precarious. The FAO’s recent results call for renewed dedication and efforts to address the intricate factors contributing to food insecurity and to protect the right to sufficient food for everyone.
To conclude, the 2026 SOFI report highlights that advancements in eliminating hunger and malnutrition are still weak. The FAO’s recent results call for renewed dedication and efforts to address the intricate factors behind food insecurity and protect the right to sufficient food for everyone.
You can read the SOFI report here: https://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/en/
