International ReportsImportant2025-05-16

Release of Global Report on Food Crises 2025

Q: Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the measurement and drivers of global food insecurity?

1 only — Statement 1 is correct; acute malnutrition is short-term and shock-driven (e.g., due to sudden conflict or extreme weather). Statement 2 is incorrect because the IPC scale specifically measures and classifies acute food insecurity (up to Catastrophe/Famine levels), not chronic long-term poverty.

In News

What Happened

On May 16, 2025, the Global Network Against Food Crises and the Food Security Information Network released the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises. The report documented a severe escalation in global hunger, estimating that 295.3 million people across 53 countries faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2024. The primary drivers of this crisis included intensified conflicts in regions like Sudan and Gaza, economic shocks, and extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change and El Nino.

Why It Matters

For India, this highlights the critical need to insulate domestic food systems from global economic and climate shocks like El Nino. It underscores the strategic importance of maintaining robust public distribution systems and agricultural buffer stocks to ensure domestic food security amid rising global volatility.

Background

History & Context

The Global Report on Food Crises has been an annual flagship publication since 2016, facilitated by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) and the Global Network Against Food Crises. It involves consensus-based assessments from key partners, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the European Union. The report relies heavily on standardized metrics like the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) to measure acute food insecurity.

What Changed

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BEFORE: The 2024 report (using 2023 data) recorded 281.6 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity globally. NOW: The 2025 report documents a worsening crisis, with the number rising to 295.3 million people in 2024.
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BEFORE: In 2023, approximately 705,000 people were at the Catastrophe level of food insecurity (IPC Phase 5), heavily concentrated in a few conflict zones. NOW: Escalated and protracted conflicts, particularly in Sudan and Gaza, have further entrenched armed conflict as the single greatest catalyst for famine-level starvation globally.
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BEFORE: Extreme weather was the primary driver of food insecurity for 77 million people across 18 countries in 2023. NOW: The 2024 data reflects the compounding impacts of a strong El Nino cycle, leading to significantly worse agricultural disruptions and extreme weather shocks.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This directly links to Class 9 Economics Chapter 4 - Food Security in India. The global report illustrates the stark realities of 'acute malnutrition' resulting from sudden shocks like conflict or El Nino, demonstrating why nations require systemic safety nets like India's Public Distribution System (PDS) to prevent food crises.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the measurement and drivers of global food insecurity?

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