More than 10 percent of the total global population is expected to go hungry in 2020. By spending $330 billion on strategic interventions, the number of hungry people around the world could decrease down to zero by 2030, according to a series of recent reports which looked at available solutions to end global hunger.
Aided by artificial intelligence, researchers from a coalition of organizations called Ceres2020 analyzed more than half a million reports and studies to find types of interventions that governments should prioritize to end global hunger.
Following a three-year-long analysis, the researchers found that in order to stop world hunger, donors would have to double the amount of aid given for food security and nutrition each year. The poorest countries would also have to invest more, adding up to an extra $33 billion spent per year.
“If we break it down into discrete problems, then yes, I think we absolutely do have a chance to achieve zero hunger by 2030,” says Jaron Porciello, a data scientist and primary investigator for Ceres2030.
After looking at key interventions for rural areas in the poorest countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, where people are most likely to be hungry, the researchers wrote 10 research papers looking at different solutions.
One study, for example, pointed to the importance of matching advancements of agricultural technologies with supporting farmers in taking up new farming techniques or crops that could make harvests more reliable.
Another study looked at ways to prevent food waste before food is delivered to markets, while a third one looked at how to train young people in new skills so that they can earn more money in the food system.
Overall, the findings of these research papers are intended to help donor governments decide which programs to support in order to achieve the most meaningful impact.
