{"id":1332212,"date":"2024-07-02T18:15:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T17:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agriland.ie\/?p=1332212"},"modified":"2024-07-02T18:26:57","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T17:26:57","slug":"local-markets-key-to-tackling-global-hunger-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightsail.agriland.ie\/farming-news\/local-markets-key-to-tackling-global-hunger-experts\/","title":{"rendered":"Local markets key to tackling global hunger – experts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Global food experts have called for an urgent shift to more localised food provision to achieve the goal of zero hunger by 2030 as nearly 30% of the world’s population are facing food insecurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With over 600 million people projected to face hunger in 2030, the goal of zero hunger by the end of the decade set out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “is further away than ever”, according to experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Food From Somewhere<\/em> report published by the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) today (Tuesday, July 2), highlights the need for greater resilience to ensure food security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“In recent times, the pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine, and escalating climate shocks have led to supply chain chaos, volatile food prices, empty shelves, and a surge in hunger levels,” the food security experts said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global industrial food chains are particularly vulnerable to trade disruptions, climate impacts, and market volatility, while often undermining the livelihoods of small-scale producers, according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local markets to combat global hunger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The panel of food security experts said that a fundamental shift towards close-to-home food supply chains through “territorial markets” offers a more resilient, robust, and equitable approach to food security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These territorial markets include public markets, street vendors, co-operatives, urban agriculture, online direct sales, food hubs and community kitchens, which rely on smaller-scale food producers and vendors serving communities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Huge volumes” of fresh foods are supplied outside of corporate chains, often directly to the consumer. In Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, small-scale and family farmers produce 80% of the food supply, according to IPES-Food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, over 400 markets feed more than 25 million people every day, and 95% of the city\u2019s urban poor purchase most of their food from these fresh food markets, the food security experts said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Floating market in Vietnam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Territorial markets are the “backbone” of food systems in many countries and regions and contribute to feeding 70% of the world’s population every day. According to the experts, these markets build resilience on multiple fronts, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n