It is of importance to achieve a better and more sustainable future, in line with that SDG 2 goal which aims to end hunger by achieving food security and improved nutrition through promoting sustainable agriculture.

SDG-02-lgSDG-2 utilizes the four pillars (availability, access, utilisation, and stability) to achieve food security. i.e availability, access, utilisation, and stability. It involves supporting sustainable agriculture to empower small farmers, promote gender equality, end rural poverty, ensure healthy lifestyles and address climate change [1].

Sustainable Agriculture is defined as “an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having site-specific application, that come through over the long term- with focusing on Satisfy human food and fibre needs, improve environmental conditions, the natural resources that support the agricultural economy, utilize non-renewable resources, Maintain the profitability of agricultural activities as well as to  improve the standard of living for farmers and society at large” according to U.S. Farm Bill [FACTA, Public Law 101 – 624] [2].

Sustainable agriculture can be a key to community nutrition, where community nutrition is defi a group of initiatives linked to applied nutrition in the context of public health, whereby the main objective is to modify dietary habits of individuals and the wider population in a given area in accordance with the most recent scientific findings with the ultimate goal of promoting health [3]. Improving global supply chains to decrease food loss and waste, to sustainably boost agricultural production as the world’s population rises, ensures that everyone who faces hunger or malnutrition has access to nutrient-rich food. Secureeffortsandinnovationsareurgentlyneededtomakethispossible [4]. According to Global Hunger Index 2021, India ranks 101st out of 116 countries, this shows India is facing severe level of hunger, with a score of 27.5 [5]. India contributes a third of the global burden of under nutrition [6]. The global novel coronavirus pandemic resulted in economic slowdown have raised global concerns about food insecurity [7]. UN reports estimated that approximately one-tenth of the global population – up to 811 million people – were malnourished during the pandemic. Which indicates that massive effort will be necessary to end world hunger by 2030 [8]. Whereas the 2012 (Rio+20) Conference on Sustainable Development, world leaders reaffirmed their right to access to safe and nutritious food.

In India, over 65% of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture.  India’s current situation is affected largely due to fragmentation, market imperfections, lack of capital and industrialization, imbalance between agricultural input prices and market sales, lack of grassroots expansion, and lack of credit facilities indicating that the acreage is currently overexploited [4]. Agricultural systems around the world need to be more productive and less wasteful. Sustainable agricultural practices and food systems, including production and consumption, should be pursued from a holistic and integrated perspective. Strengthening the resilience of local food systems is essential to avoid future large-scale shortages and to ensure food security and adequate nutrition for all [9].

References:

  1. Bernardes Gil, J. D., Reidsma, P., Giller, K., Todman, L., Whitmore, A., & Ittersum, M. V. (2018, September 28). Sustainable development goal 2: Improved targets and indicators for agriculture and food security – Ambio. SpringerLink. //link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13280-018-1101-4.
  2. Sustainable Agriculture: Definitions and Terms. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center. NAL. USDA. (n.d.). Sustainable Agriculture: Definitions and Terms. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center| NAL | USDA. //www.nal.usda.gov/legacy/afsic/sustainable-agriculture-definitions-and-terms#toc2 (Retrieved September 21, 2022).
  3. Aranceta, J. Community nutrition. Eur J Clin Nutr 57 (Suppl 1), S79–S81 (2003). //doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601823.
  4. Gahukar T.Sustainable agriculture in India : Current situation and future needs. International Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 200:5(1): 1-7.
  5. India – Global Hunger Index (GHI) – peer-reviewed annual publication designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and country levels. India. from //www.globalhungerindex.org/india.html (Retrieved September 21, 2022).
  6. World Health Organisation(WHO).URL: //www.who.int/india/health-topics/nutrition#:~:text=India%20contributes%20a%20third%20of,the%20attainment%20of%20global%20targets. (Retrieved September 22, 2022,)
  7. Goal 2: Zero Hunger. (n.d.). Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from //www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/hunger/.
  8. UN report: Pandemic year marked by spike in world hunger. (2021, July 12). UN Report: Pandemic Year Marked by Spike in World Hunger. //www.who.int/news/item/12-07-2021-un-report-pandemic-year-marked-by-spike-in-world-hunger(Retrieved September 21, 2022).
  9. Food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2018, February 28). Food Security and Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. //sdgs.un.org/topics/food-security-and-nutrition-and-sustainable-agriculture (Retrieved September 22, 2022).

Affiliation:

  • Dean and Distinguished University Professor at School of Public Health, University of Memphis, TN, USA
  • Foundation of Healthcare Technologies Society, New Delhi, India