Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Definition

Goal 2: Zero Hunger aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. This goal is part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the importance of ensuring access to safe, nutritious food for all people, particularly the most vulnerable populations. It connects to issues like poverty alleviation, health outcomes, and sustainable agricultural practices.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Around 690 million people worldwide are undernourished, which equates to about 8.9% of the global population.
2. Goal 2 seeks to ensure that all people have sufficient food year-round, particularly children who are at greater risk of malnutrition.
3. The goal emphasizes the need for resilient agricultural practices that can adapt to climate change and environmental challenges.
4. Promoting sustainable food systems includes reducing food waste at all levels of production and consumption.
5. Achieving Zero Hunger is closely linked with ending poverty (Goal 1) and promoting good health and well-being (Goal 3).

Review Questions

• How does Goal 2: Zero Hunger relate to issues of food security and nutrition?
  • Goal 2: Zero Hunger directly addresses food security by aiming to ensure that everyone has reliable access to sufficient food. It also focuses on improving nutrition, particularly for vulnerable populations like children. The goal highlights the importance of not just the quantity of food available but also its nutritional quality, emphasizing that ending hunger involves addressing both access and the type of food consumed.
• Discuss how sustainable agriculture contributes to achieving Goal 2: Zero Hunger.
  • Sustainable agriculture plays a crucial role in achieving Goal 2 by promoting farming practices that can produce enough food without harming the environment or depleting natural resources. This includes using techniques that increase crop yields while minimizing chemical inputs and water usage. By ensuring that agricultural systems are resilient and adaptable to climate changes, sustainable agriculture helps maintain long-term food security and supports healthy diets for growing populations.
• Evaluate the broader implications of achieving Goal 2: Zero Hunger on global development and social equity.
  • Achieving Goal 2: Zero Hunger has far-reaching implications for global development and social equity. When hunger is eradicated, it leads to improved health outcomes, increased educational attainment, and enhanced economic productivity. This creates a ripple effect that supports the achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals, such as reducing poverty and promoting gender equality. Furthermore, addressing hunger through equitable access to resources fosters social cohesion and stability, ultimately contributing to more peaceful societies.

Related terms

Food Security: Food security means having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food to maintain a healthy life.

Sustainable Agriculture: Sustainable agriculture focuses on farming practices that protect the environment, public health, human communities, and animal welfare while also ensuring profitability for farmers.

Malnutrition: Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and/or nutrients, leading to adverse health effects.