FAO warns up to 520 million people could face hunger by 2030

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has updated its projections for global hunger, stating that between 510 and 520 million people could face hunger by 2030. This is an increase from the previous estimate of 503 million.

Oleg Kobiakov, the FAO Liaison Office Director for the Russian Federation, attributed this rise primarily to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The instability in the region has disrupted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil and gas, leading to higher fuel prices. Such energy fluctuations can drive up the costs of fertilizers and agricultural production, further impacting food security.

These projections do not account for additional complicating factors, such as extreme weather events like droughts and floods, which could further diminish agricultural yields and exacerbate food vulnerability worldwide.