SDG2: Zero Hunger
The number of undernourished people has dropped by almost half in the past two decades because of rapid economic growth and increased agricultural productivity. Many developing countries that used to suffer from famine and hunger can now meet their nutritional needs. Central and East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean have all made huge progress in eradicating extreme hunger.
Unfortunately, extreme hunger and malnutrition remain a huge barrier to development in many countries. There are 821 million people estimated to be chronically undernourished as of 2017, often as a direct consequence of environmental degradation, drought and biodiversity loss. Over 90 million children under five are dangerously underweight. Undernourishment and severe food insecurity appear to be increasing in almost all regions of Africa, as well as in South America.
The SDGs aim to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, making sure all people–especially children–have sufficient and nutritious food all year. This involves promoting sustainable agriculture, supporting small-scale farmers and equal access to land, technology and markets. It also requires international cooperation to ensure investment in infrastructure and technology to improve agricultural productivity. (UNDP, 2015)
Companies that are achieving this are:
Unilever Pte Ltd (NYSE:UL)
Industry: Food & Staples Retailing, Beverages, Food Products, Household Products, Personal Products
Headquartered in: UK
Unilever has launched a "Future Foods" ambition to help people eat better, by offering affordable and healthier foods and beverages which contain a higher nutrition content. It is also targetting to halve food wastes in its operations by 2025 to address food insecurity. Through these initiatives, Unilver is working to improve access to nutritious food and reduce hunger issues such as malnutrition and stunting in children.
BAYER (FWB:BAYN, OTC:BAYRY)
Committed to helping 100 million smallholder farmers by 2030 by establishing crop value chain partnerships to deliver high-quality inputs, agronomy knowledge, cost-effective financing and risk mitigation solutions and market linkages to sell their produce. These smallholder farmers are the backbone of food systems in many low income countries. 2. Already helping 45 million smallholder farmers
Industry: Agricultural Products, Personal Products, Pharmaceuticals
Headquartered in: Germany
Danone (EURONEXT:BN, OTC:DANOY)
As a global food and beverage company, Danone launched its Nutriplanet Prorgram to invest in understanding global and local public health issues in order to define strategies to encourage healthy choices and to develop relevant solutions and products. Nutriplanet found evidence of nutrient deficiencies in some emerging countries (mainly in Africa) which led to the development of fortified dairy products for children and women with nutrient deficiencies. For instance, Phosphatine in Africa, FanXtra in Ghana, Danino in Algeria, Nutriday in South Africa, Jibi Vanilla in Morocco and Danonino Argentina.
Danone also launched Danone Communities, an incubator of business solutions addressing low incomes population needs in terms of access to safe drinking water and alleviating chronic malnutrition. Since 2006, Danone Communities has co-financed and supported twelve social businesses on nutrition and water access, including in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, France, Haiti, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.