Listen to Story The 2024 Global Food Policy Report (GFPR), released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), reveals that over 2 billion people in the world cannot afford healthy food, mostly in South Asia and Africa. "According to the report, 2 billion people are affected by micronutrient deficiencies, while 2.2 billion people are overweight or obese, with 40% of all adults falling into these categories and 1.
2 billion people have high blood pressure," said Dr Purima Menon, CGIAR and IFPRI's Senior Director for Food and Nutrition, at the launch event in Kathmandu, Nepal. The report addresses the growing challenges of unhealthy diets, malnutrition, and environmental issues. In many low- and middle-income countries, progress in reducing undernutrition and vitamin deficiencies has slowed, while obesity and overweight rates are rising worldwide.
The report identifies a 'double burden' of malnutrition with rising obesity and undernutrition coexisting. (Photo: Getty Images) Many countries now face a "double burden" of malnutrition, where undernutrition and deficiencies coexist with obesity and diet-related diseases within communities and individuals. Besides this, the report highlights an urgent need to make food systems more environmentally sustainable.
Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director at CGIAR, emphasised that meeting global goals for diets and nutrition requires innovative research and action to make healthy diets accessible, affordable, and des.