Geraldine O’Callaghan
Director of London Global Office, World Food Programme
Conflict and the climate crisis are driving unprecedented levels of global hunger. As the gap between humanitarian needs and resources grows, innovation is bringing some much-needed optimism.
Conflict and the climate crisis are driving unprecedented levels of global hunger. As the gap between humanitarian needs and resources grows, innovation is bringing some much-needed optimism.
Acute hunger has more than doubled in the last five years. Approximately 309 million people around the world are struggling to feed themselves and their families — a 129% increase on 2019. At a time of global economic slowdown, the international community is struggling to keep pace with escalating needs and is looking for innovative ways to reach more vulnerable people with less money and fewer emissions.
Using innovation to tackle climate-related hunger
Extreme weather events have increased five-fold in the past 50 years, with climate-related disasters causing a record 31.8 million internal displacements in 2022 alone. As the number of crises grows, the international community is working to shift from reactive, costly, disaster response to proactive preparedness and protection.
Globally, 40% of food is lost
post-harvest because of poor storage.
AI-based weather forecasts aid farmers
Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are leading to degraded soils, lower crop yields and higher food prices. With rain-fed agriculture accounting for 95% of Africa’s food production, smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to any changes in the weather. However, new agricultural monitoring innovations are helping farmers all over the world adapt to a changing climate.
For instance, Ignitia, a World Food Programme (WFP)-supported project, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide accurate and affordable hyper-local weather forecasts via SMS to Sub-Saharan African smallholder farmers. This location-specific guidance helps farmers improve their yield, for example through planting drought-resistant crops or planting when the weather is right.
Innovative storage systems reduce food waste
Globally, 40% of food is lost post-harvest because of poor storage. Through support from WFP’s Innovation Accelerator, Africa GreenTec is addressing post-harvest food spoilage through the development of solar-powered, mobile ‘cooltainer’ systems. The programme is dramatically cutting food waste, providing farmers with long-lasting products for market and bolstering year-round food security for communities.
These examples show the incredible potential of technology in tackling two of the world’s greatest challenges: hunger and the climate crisis. Innovation can significantly impact the lives of the world’s poor.
