《2021年亚洲及太平洋区域粮食安全和营养状况概览》-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 a comprehensive overview of food security and nutrition trends in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the region. It highlights the prevalence of undernourishment, food insecurity, and malnutrition among children and women, and outlines the challenges and opportunities for improving the situation in the context of sustainable development goals.

Main Findings

Undernourishment (SDG 2.1)

• In 2020, an estimated 375.8 million people in Asia and the Pacific faced undernourishment, a 17% increase from 2019.
• The majority of undernourished people (305.7 million) reside in Southern Asia.
• The prevalence of undernourishment in the region was 8.7% in 2020, slightly below the global average of 9.9%.
• The prevalence of undernourishment in Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand was 19.9%, the highest in the region.
• Eastern Asia (excluding China) had the lowest prevalence of undernourishment, at <2.5%.
• The number of undernourished people in the region was 375.8 million in 2020, representing a 25.4% increase from 2000.

Food Insecurity (SDG 2.1)

• The prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the region was 25.7% in 2020, up from 18.7% in 2014.
• The region accounted for 46.9% of the global total of 2.4 billion people facing moderate or severe food insecurity.
• Southern Asia had the highest prevalence of food insecurity at 43.8% in 2020, followed by South-eastern Asia (18.8%), Oceania (12.0%), and Eastern Asia (7.8%).
• The number of people experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity increased by 341.9 million, or 44.4%, between 2014 and 2020.
• Southern Asia accounted for 849.8 million people in this category, while Eastern Asia had 130.8 million, South-eastern Asia had 125.5 million, and Oceania had 5.1 million.

Malnutrition (SDG 2.2)

• Stunting among children under five remains a significant issue, with 23% of children in the region still affected.
• Ten countries in the region have a "very high prevalence" of stunting, according to the World Health Organization.
• Wasting among children under five increased in 2020, with the prevalence reaching 8.6% in South-eastern Asia and 10.4% in Southern Asia.
• Overweight among children under five is also rising, particularly in South-eastern Asia and Southern Asia.
• Anaemia among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) is a widespread issue, with 19.9% prevalence in Southern Asia and 15.5% in South-eastern Asia.

Adult Nutrition

• Adult obesity is a growing concern, with the prevalence reaching 12.8% in East Asia excluding China and 18.8% in South-eastern Asia.
• Exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0–5 months of age has improved, with 28% prevalence in the region, though it remains a challenge in some countries.
• Low birthweight is still a significant problem, with 9.4% prevalence in the region overall.

Key Trends and Impacts

• The economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic significantly worsened food security and nutrition in the region.
• While food price increases had an impact, the reduction in income and employment had a more substantial effect on food affordability.
• Small-scale family farmers and vulnerable groups such as indigenous people, women, and youth are central to the region’s food production and are disproportionately affected by food insecurity and malnutrition.
• The 2020 economic contraction had a severe impact on tourism-dependent SIDS, such as Fiji, Maldives, Palau, and Vanuatu, which experienced GDP contractions of 10% or more.

Opportunities for Improvement

• The report emphasizes the need to transform agri-food systems to ensure better production, nutrition, and livelihoods.
• Events like the United Nations Food Systems Summit, Nutrition for Growth Summit, and COP26 offer opportunities to advance food security and nutrition.
• The focus should be on leverage commitments made during these events to achieve SDG 2 and eradicate malnutrition and food insecurity.

Conclusion

The region continues to face significant challenges in food security and nutrition, with the pandemic exacerbating existing inequalities. While progress has been made over the years, the recent increases in undernourishment and food insecurity indicate the urgent need for targeted interventions and systemic reforms to ensure sustainable improvements in the region’s food and nutrition landscape.