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ON OCTOBER 16, the world observes World Food Day—a stark reminder of the persistent global crises of hunger and malnutrition that continue to plague millions. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, nearly 733 million people are currently facing hunger, while over 2.8 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. This escalating human tragedy is compounded by climate change, economic shocks, conflict and the lingering effects of the Covid pandemic. But this crisis is not just a technical problem — it is a profound moral one, deeply rooted in global inequalities.

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The global food outlook

THE global food crisis is the result of a perfect storm of interrelated factors. The Global Report on Food Crises (2024) paints a harrowing picture of food insecurity. A staggering 281.6 million people in 59 countries experienced acute food insecurity in 2023. Although this number represents a slight improvement from 2022, it is still catastrophic when compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Three major forces drive this crisis: conflict, climate extremes, and economic shocks. In countries like Sudan and Gaza, war and violence have destroyed food systems, displaced millions, and brought populations to the brink of famine. Meanwhile, food price inflation remains a critical driver, affecting over 75 per cent of low-income countries, including nations like Argentina and South Sudan, which are seeing inflation rates as high as 237 per cent. As food prices rise globally, especially for staples like rice and maize, countries dependent on imports are pushed further into crisis.

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Climate change and food security

CLIMATE change is not merely an external factor — it is the single most significant threat to food security, amplifying the other drivers of conflict and economic instability. Extreme weather events, from droughts to floods, are not only disrupting agricultural productivity but reshaping entire food systems.

In 2023, extreme weather events displaced 72 million people across 18 countries, with regions like Southern Africa, Latin America, and South Asia bracing for even more severe disruptions as El Niño intensifies in 2024. According to the World Bank Food Security Update Report, maize production is expected to fall by 1.2 per cent globally due to heatwaves in Europe and Mexico. Zimbabwe has already experienced a 60 per cent deficit in maize production due to droughts. Similarly, wildfires in South America have devastated agricultural lands, further exacerbating regional food insecurity. The global disruption of commodity markets, from maize shortages in Zimbabwe to rice deficits in South Asia, is driving food prices higher, with devastating consequences for billions.

In Bangladesh, climate change is an everyday reality. Rising sea levels are steadily swallowing arable land, and salinisation in coastal areas is turning once-fertile fields barren, forcing many farmers into seasonal migration. Farmers are battling shorter growing seasons, unpredictable rainfall, and the gradual degradation of soil fertility. Today, over 40 per cent of Bangladesh’s population is at risk of food insecurity, with more than 40 million people undernourished. Women and smallholder farmers are disproportionately affected by these climate shocks, as they lack access to resources, social safety nets, and decision-making power in agricultural policies.

However, Bangladesh’s struggles are not isolated. Across the globe, climate-induced disruptions are exacerbating existing vulnerabilities in food systems. The regions suffering the worst consequences of climate change—those least responsible for global emissions—are paying the heaviest price. Addressing food insecurity is therefore not only a technical challenge but a fundamental question of justice.

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The economic dimension

WHILE climate change is a leading cause of the global food crisis, economic shocks and financial instability are intensifying the situation. High inflation rates are making basic staples unattainable in low- and middle-income countries, where over 75 million people across 21 nations struggled to access food in 2023.

Many of these countries are further burdened by high levels of public debt, which severely limits their capacity to invest in food security, agricultural resilience, and social protection programs. Without significant financial support or debt relief from the international community, these nations will continue to be trapped in cycles of food dependency. The fragility of the global trade system compounds this vulnerability, leaving food-importing countries especially exposed to price spikes and supply chain disruptions.

At the heart of the issue is an international trade system that favours wealthier countries at the expense of low-income ones, which control food markets through export-oriented agricultural policies and trade agreements. Low-income countries like Bangladesh, which rely on food imports, are especially vulnerable to global market volatility. These structural inequities perpetuate food insecurity, particularly in nations that are least responsible for the global crises driving these challenges.

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Conflict: the silent driver of hunger

IN ADDITION to climate and economic shocks, conflict continues to be a significant driver of acute food insecurity, particularly in war-torn regions where violence destroys food systems, supply chains, and livelihoods. In 2023, conflict devastated food systems in 20 countries, leaving 135 million people in crisis. Sudan and Gaza, in particular, are experiencing famine-like conditions (IPC Phase 5), with more than 25 million people in Sudan suffering from acute food insecurity. Half of Gaza’s population now faces catastrophic hunger.

In conflict zones, women and children bear the brunt of the crisis most. Over 36 million children under the age of five suffered from acute malnutrition in 2023, with 60 per cent of them living in conflict-affected regions. This tragic cycle of violence, displacement, and hunger creates a feedback loop that will continue to devastate vulnerable populations unless systemic interventions are put in place.

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Addressing systemic causes

WHILE conflict, climate extremes, and economic shocks are the immediate drivers of the global food crisis, there are deeper structural causes that often go unaddressed. The fragility of food systems in developing countries is rooted in unjust economic structures, including the global trade system, debt burdens, and export-oriented agricultural policies. Without addressing these root causes, short-term solutions like food aid or subsidies will never be enough.

One of the key areas for systemic change lies in reforming international trade policies to protect low-income nations from price volatility and exploitative trade practices. At the same time, debt relief initiatives must be expanded to allow developing countries to invest in agricultural resilience, climate adaptation, and social safety nets. Without these structural reforms, food insecurity will remain a persistent global challenge.

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The path forward

THE path to food security requires more than financial aid—it demands comprehensive, sustainable, and systemic responses. Nature-based solutions offer a promising way forward. In regions like Bangladesh, agroforestry and mangrove restoration have proven effective in building resilience against hostile climate conditions. Agroforestry improves soil health, sequesters carbon, and increases biodiversity, while mangroves protect coastal communities from storm surges and serve as vital nurseries for fish, contributing both to food security and local economies. However, scaling these solutions is hampered by systemic barriers such as unequal land access and financial constraints. Addressing these inequities through land reform and financial support is essential to empowering smallholder farmers, who play a pivotal role in food security across the globe.

Similarly, climate-smart agricultural technologies, including AI-driven weather forecasting, precision farming, and drought-resistant crops, can optimise water use, increase crop yields, and reduce agricultural emissions. Yet, access to these technologies remains limited, particularly for smallholder farmers, who make up over 85 per cent of Bangladesh’s agricultural workforce. Governments must prioritise investments in these innovations, ensuring that subsidies and low-interest loans are available to the farmers who need them most.

Food waste is another critical but often overlooked aspect of food insecurity. In Bangladesh, nearly 30 per cent of post-harvest food is lost due to inadequate cold storage and transportation infrastructure. By investing in infrastructure improvements, food waste can be significantly reduced, ensuring more food reaches markets and consumers. Moreover, encouraging urban rooftop and vertical farming in cities like Dhaka could diversify food production and reduce the pressure on rural farmlands.

Globally, food waste contributes to 8–10 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. A circular food economy — where waste is minimised and resources are reused — is not just an environmental necessity but an economic opportunity. Policy measures aimed at reducing food waste and promoting sustainable agriculture practices could help Bangladesh navigate these dual crises of food security and climate change.

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A collective responsibility

WHILE the solutions to the global food crisis are clear, building a resilient food system requires more than technological innovation—it demands political will, robust governance, and global solidarity. The international community must address the widening financing gap to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 — Zero Hunger. According to the World Bank Food Security Update, trillions of dollars in public and private investments will be needed by 2030. However, official development assistance (ODA) for food security remains inadequate, currently making up less than 25 per cent of total aid, leaving low-income countries severely underfunded.

To meet these challenges, wealthy nations — who have disproportionately contributed to global emissions — must honour their commitments to supporting vulnerable countries like Bangladesh. This support must extend beyond mere financial aid to include crucial technology transfers, capacity building, and debt relief. These efforts must be guided by the humanitarian, development, and peace nexus, which links short-term humanitarian relief with long-term resilience-building. Without significant increases in global financing — through mechanisms like blended finance or innovative investment strategies — international hunger reduction goals will remain out of reach.

Corporations, especially those in the food and agricultural sectors, must commit to sustainable business practices by reducing their environmental impact, minimising food waste, and ensuring fair labour practices across their supply chains. They can also play a key role in funding climate adaptation projects in the communities most affected by climate change.

Finally, international organisations, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, and the International Monetary Fund, must also take more concrete steps. These bodies should push for reforms in global trade agreements to ensure that low-income nations are not disproportionately affected by market volatility and exploitative trade practices. Furthermore, climate finance must be scaled up through mechanisms like the Paris Agreement, ensuring that vulnerable nations receive the funding and technology needed to adapt to climate change. Debt relief initiatives should also be expanded, allowing developing countries to invest in agricultural resilience and social safety nets without being trapped by financial burdens.

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The future is in our hands

EACH passing year without bold, collective intervention brings us closer to irreversible damage — not just to the planet, but to the very fabric of our society. For every policy delayed, for every investment deferred, millions will go to bed hungry.

While the challenge is daunting, it is not insurmountable — but the human cost of inaction is staggering. The greatest tragedy lies in our failure to act, despite having the tools and knowledge to change this trajectory. Food security is not just a fight for sustenance — it is a fight for justice, for the right of every person to live free from hunger and the fear of it.

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Md Zahurul Al Mamun is a climate change researcher and analyst.