OUTLOOK FOOD SECURITY
A WORLD OF INSECURITY
Malnutrition is a global problem. With population and consumption set to rise over the
coming decades, achieving food security will require action on many fronts. By Julie Gould,
infographic by Mohamed Ashour.
40
OVER AND UNDER
Obese
35
Undernourished
30
Population (%)
Malnutrition includes both the
over- and underconsumption of
calories. According to the World
Health Organization, nearly 40%
of Oceania’s population is
obese. The highest rates of
undernutrition are in Africa and
the Caribbean, where around
20% of people fail to get
enough calories.
Estimate (<5%)
25
20
15
10
5
0
10.8%
North
America
Central
America
Caribbean
NORTH AMERICA
of the global population is
undernourished, equivalent
to around 795 million
people — the fewest people
since records began
in 1990.
The daily supply of meat per
person almost doubled
between 1963 and 2013
(see page S18).
Asia
Oceania
30% surplus
20% surplus
CARIBBEAN
15% surplus
AFRICA
OCEANIA
17% surplus
14% surplus
CENTRAL
AMERICA
27% surplus
SOUTH AMERICA
31% surplus
Cereals
SUPPLY MAKE-UP
INCREASE
Africa
ASIA
Worldwide, calorie supply is
23% higher than required.
Although at a regional level
there is more than enough food
available, significant variation
exists at the national level —
Haiti and the Central African
Republic, for instance, both have
13% deficits. And availability is
no guarantee of food security.
Access to food, which is
determined by factors such as
location, affordability and
gender, also has a part to play.
Sugar and fat
Dairy and eggs
Fruit and vegetables
Meat and fish
Other
100
80
Daily food supply (%)
97.5%
Europe
EUROPE
46% surplus
GLOBAL SURPLUS
Globally, cereals are the biggest
source of energy. In Asia, they
made up around 50% of the
region’s daily energy supply in
2013. Sugar and fats made up
the biggest share of North
America’s and Oceania’s daily
energy supply.
South
America
60
40
20
0
North America
Central
America
Caribbean
South
America
Europe
Africa
Asia
Oceania
.
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FOOD SECURITY OUTLOOK
NET IMPORT
NET EXPORT
PRODUCTION BOOST
SPREAD IT AROUND
GROWING GAINS
Many countries do not have
enough land or water resources to
feed their population and have to
rely on potentially volatile global
trade markets. In 2010, around
80% of countries were net
importers of cereals. Caribbean
nations are especially dependent
on imports, whereas South
American and European countries
are the biggest net exporters.
Food crop production increased significantly in the past half century. The
quantity of cereals grown for human consumption has more than tripled since
1961, while cultivation of vegetables and melons has increased nearly fivefold.
221%
3
1961
Billion tonnes
2.5
2014
2
1.5
425%
85%
1
294%
0.5
0
The growth in global
production has been
driven more by
rising yields than by
increases in land
used. This varies
regionally, however.
In sub-Saharan
Africa, for example,
cropland expansion
has had the larger
impact.
EGYPT
is the biggest
importer of wheat.
In total, around
40% of its food
supply is imported
(see page S14).
50
xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx
North America
exports
nearly 80%
of the wheat
it produces.
Harvested cropland
has increased by
around 21%
40
30
20
10
1961
1961
2014
Dairy
and eggs
5%
Globally, most
pre-household food
waste is fresh produce.
As the population has
grown, so has the
amount of waste. It is
now 74% higher than
it was 30 years ago.
The only region to
significantly reduce
waste is Europe, where
it has almost halved
since 1987.
Sugar
and fat
19%
ANNUAL
WASTE PER
CAPITA
Cereals
24%
500
Fruit and
vegetables
51%
North America
Central America
ARGENTINA
exports more
cereals
compared with
its consumption than any
other nation.
South America
Europe
Africa
Asia
Oceania
400
Annual waste (million tonnes)
Caribbean
Relative to its
population, South
America has the
highest levels of
food waste. This is
driven by sugar —
the crop accounts
for nearly 50% of
South America’s
food waste.
300
200
100
0
50
2014
Meat, fish
and other
1%
Central America
100
903
743
0
STOPPING
THE WASTE
AUSTRALIA
Fruit excluding
melons
Million hectares
DOING MORE
WITH MORE
Yield (tonnes per hectare)
including Barbados,
Kuwait, Congo and
Papua New Guinea
imported more
than 90% of their
cereals between
2009 and 2011.
Roots and
tubers
Vegetables and
melons
Cereals
26 COUNTRIES
0
–50
–100
–150
Cereal import dependency ratio (%; 2009–11)
–200
1987
2013
Caribbean*
South America
Europe
Africa
Asia
Oceania*
* value < 2 million
Sources: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization
.
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