《2021年亚太区域粮食安全和营养状况概述：统计和趋势》英-66页_2mb

Summary of "Asia and the Pacific - Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2021: Statistics and Trends"

Core Content

This report provides an overview of food security and nutrition in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and long-term trends. It highlights the region's progress and setbacks in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

Main Findings

Food Insecurity and Undernourishment

• Undernourishment: In 2020, an estimated 375.8 million people in Asia and the Pacific were undernourished, representing a 17% increase from 2019.
  • The highest prevalence was in Southern Asia (15.8%), followed by Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand (19.9%), South-eastern Asia (7.3%) and Eastern Asia (<2.5%).
  • The global average for undernourishment was 9.9%, while the Asia-Pacific region had 8.7% in 2020.
• Severe Food Insecurity: In 2020, 443.8 million people in the region were severely food insecure, up by 127.3 million or 40.2% since 2014.
• Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity: 1.1 billion people in the region faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2020, an increase of 341.9 million or 44.4% since 2014.
  • Southern Asia accounted for 849.8 million of these people.
• Impact of the Pandemic: The economic downturn caused by the pandemic significantly worsened food insecurity, particularly in Southern Asia, where the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity increased by 10.2 percentage points from 2019 to 2020.

Malnutrition

• Stunting: Nearly 23% of children under five in the region are stunted.
  • 10 countries have a "very high prevalence" of stunting (>30%).
• Wasting: Wasting among children under five remains a concern, though specific figures are not provided in the text.
• Overweight: The prevalence of overweight among children under five is also a growing issue.
• Anaemia: Anaemia among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) is widespread, with significant regional variation.

Key Trends and Insights

• The economic impact of the pandemic was more significant in worsening food insecurity than rising food prices.
• Southern Asia saw the largest increase in undernourishment and food insecurity.
• Small Island Developing States (SIDS) were particularly affected due to their reliance on tourism, with many experiencing GDP contractions of 10% or more in 2020.
• Government responses and social protection measures played a critical role in mitigating the worst effects of the pandemic on food security.
• The FAO emphasizes the importance of transforming agri-food systems to ensure better nutrition, environmental sustainability, and improved livelihoods.

Opportunities for Improvement

• The UN Food Systems Summit, Nutrition for Growth Summit, and COP26 offer key opportunities to advance food security and nutrition.
• The report calls for a focus on vulnerable groups, including small-scale family farmers, indigenous people, women, and youth, as they are crucial to the production of nutritious food.
• The availability of diverse foods is a miraculous outcome of the efforts of family farmers, who are essential to ensuring food security and nutrition in the region.

Methodology and Data Sources

• The report uses FAO's Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) and Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) data.
• PoU estimates the proportion of the population with a chronic lack of food, while FIES measures short-term food insecurity.
• Data is projected for 2020, and the report is based on FAO and UNICEF joint efforts.

Conclusion

The Asia-Pacific region continues to face significant challenges in achieving food security and nutrition, with the pandemic accelerating existing issues. While economic growth has historically reduced food insecurity, recent setbacks highlight the need for urgent action and systemic transformation to ensure long-term sustainability and equitable access to food.