Within the last few years, the Global Citizen vision for a world without hunger has become undeniably achievable. Although the scale of the problem is daunting with 800 million people around the world suffering from hunger, President Obama’s efforts since 2008 have achieved serious progress.
Launched in 2009, his Feed the Future initiative has to date helped over 9 million farmers gain access to new tools and technologies and improved the diets of nearly 18 million children. Partnering with 19 countries including Honduras, Nepal and Malawi, the U.S. Government is working to build a more food-secure future by providing the technology, infrastructure, and agricultural practices needed to empower nations to become sustainable.
The recently released Feed the Future annual progress report tells a story of great success and reminds us why we’re committed to achieving a world without hunger. Check out some of the numbers we find most encouraging:
9,038,480
Number of farmers and others who use improved technologies or management practices thanks to USG assistance
Over half of the world’s poor live in rural areas of developing countries and depend on agriculture for a living. By providing farmers with better tools and resources to combat problems like pests, crop disease, and irregular weather, Feed the Future is enabling communities to develop healthier, more sustainable lives.
17,678,845
Number of children under 5 reached by US Government-supported nutrition programs
Issues of poverty and hunger can be tackled only after addressing the critical role nutrition plays in a child’s physical and mental development. Poor nutrition in childhood prevents success later on in the classroom and limits work productivity in adulthood.
Feed the Future is improving nutrition in 19 countries by training local health workers, supporting the cultivation of nutrient-dense crops, and training families on the growth and preparation of nutritious foods.
1,227,391
Number of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including farmers, receiving US Government assistance to access loans
Feed the Future places women and smallholder farmers at the center of its policy efforts. Recognizing the impact women’s economic empowerment will have on reducing poverty and promoting global prosperity, Feed the Future investments promote women’s leadership in agriculture and encourage policy changes that increase women’s land ownership and financial independence.
829,439,579
Number of US Dollars attributed to Feed the Future
Global food security has managed to garner incredible bipartisan support. This is in part due to the fact that it’s impossible to overlook the quick progress made for improved food security and nutrition within Feed the Future’s first five years of groundwork.
On July 6th, Congress passed the Global Food Security Act which locked in two years of funding for America’s food security investments and will ensure that President Obama’s efforts to tackle hunger through the Feed the Future Initiative outlasts his presidency. Global Citizen worked hard from the start to get this bill through Congress and on the President’s desk. Seeing Feed the Future’s results from 2015 reaffirms our hope for continued progress under the Global Food Security Act.