Despite some recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic, global hunger and food insecurity remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, putting the achievement of SDG Targets 2.1 and 2.2 at risk. A major contributing factor is persistent food price inflation, which has reduced purchasing power and limited access to nutritious diets—especially for low-income populations.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 finds that rising food prices are closely linked to increased food insecurity and child malnutrition, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as low-income households, women, and rural communities.
To address these challenges and prevent future shocks, the report emphasizes the need for coordinated policy responses, including aligned fiscal and monetary measures, open and resilient trade systems, stronger data infrastructure, and sustained investment in resilient agrifood systems. These actions are critical to restoring progress toward ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030.