Food Crisis

European Media

•

14 days

Summary

Sources
51
Narrative Items
396
About This Module

The European Media module tracks a large number of media organizations and journalists operating in and reporting on Eastern and Western Europe.

Top Items

These narrative items are the most relevant and/or the most amplified
Amplifiers:
EURACTIV
euractiv.com
Lula rallies G20 nations against world hunger ahead of meeting
Lula has made hunger a key priority of Brazils presidency of the G20, along with taxing the super-rich, which will top the agenda when finance ministers meet Thursday and Friday. UN report published Wednesday said 733 million people had suffered from hunger last year - nine percent of the worlds population.
Amplifiers:
Daily Mail
dailymail.co.uk
Minnesota dad jailed for starving daughter who died of hunger
Jewel Sky Fineday died on December 25, 2022 on the Red Lake Indian Reservation and was left 'not just thin, but skeletal' due to 'a lack of care' from her father, Julius Finingay Sr., 42. Julius was sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court after pleading guilty to felony child neglect in connection to the tragic death of his young daughter. The girl's grandmother and Julius' mother, Sharon Marie Rosebar, 63, was convicted on April 30 on the same charges. Her sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
Amplifiers:
Yle News
yle.fi
Slowing inflation brings food prices down
Inflation was 1.3 percent in June, down from 1.5 percent in May, Statistics Finland reported. The agency said the slowdown was due to more moderate increases in average mortgage rates and cheaper holiday packages. Some grocery items are, however, more expensive than last year. The price of potatoes rose by an average of 39 percent and cabbage by 13 percent.
Amplifiers:
Helsinki Times
helsinkitimes.fi
Inflation continues to slow as food prices stabilize
Finland's inflation rate continued its downward trend in June, with consumer prices rising by just 1.3% year-over-year. According to the European Central Bank's Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), inflation in June stood at 0.5%, compared to 1.1% at the start of the year. The HICP excludes the price developments of owner-occupied housing, interest rates, and gambling.
Amplifiers:
Radio Prague International
english.radio.cz
Czech food prices fall most rapidly in EU
Food prices in Czechia dropped significantly in June, in comparison with the EU, with a 4.8 percent year-on-year decrease. Vladimr Vao, Chief Economist at GLOBSEC, explains the decrease in food prices. He argues that Czech consumers are unique in their price sensitivity even in relation to volatile products such as food products.
Amplifiers:
Yahoo News UK & Ireland
uk.news.yahoo.com
We are far from achieving goal to eliminate hunger by 2030, UN warns
One in 11 people globally and one in five in Africa faced hunger in 2023 due to conflicts, climate change and economic downturns. Food insecurity and malnutrition are worsening due to a combination of factors, including persistent food price inflation, conflict and climate change. Lack of affordable access to healthy diets also remains a critical issue, affecting more than a third of the world's population.
Amplifiers:
The Guardian
theguardian.com
Africa to overtake Asia with highest number of hungry people by 2030, says UN
Africa already has the largest proportion of people who do not have enough nutritious food to eat (20.4%) Asia is home to more than half the worlds hungry people. In 2023, 384.5 million people in Asia were facing hunger, compared with 298.4 million in Africa. Climate crisis, conflict and economic shocks leave global food system disastrously vulnerable.
Amplifiers:
The Romanian News Blog
ronewsblog.wordpress.com
The 9% VAT will lower food prices by 15% and reduce evasion
VAT reduction from 24% to 9% for basic foods will lead to lower prices for those products by 15% and significantly reduce tax evasion, according to representatives of employers in the industry. Food prices will fall significantly if such measure is to be put in action next year.
Amplifiers:
The Telegraph (UK)
telegraph.co.uk
How climate and conflict are driving a global hunger crisis
Five UN agencies have been monitoring rising food insecurity since 2017. The UN is likely to miss its target of zero hunger for 2030 one of its sustainable development goals. 582 million people are projected to be chronically undernourished at the end of the decade.
Amplifiers:
FT
ft.com
UN blasts ‘shamefully’ high hunger levels
FirstFT: the day's biggest stories 20+ curated newsletters Follow topics & set alerts with myFT Videos & Podcasts 20 monthly gift articles to share FT Digital Edition: our digitised print edition Everything in Print Weekday Print Edition FT Weekend FT Digital edition. Standard Digital Weekend Print + Standard Digital complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.

Context

The issues surrounding hunger and food insecurity are deeply intertwined with demographic, social, economic, political, and military factors globally. In Brazil, President Lula's focus on hunger reflects a broader concern, as 733 million people worldwide faced hunger in 2022, exacerbated by conflicts, climate change, and economic downturns. In Africa, where 20.4% of the population is food insecure, the situation is dire, with one in five individuals lacking access to nutritious food. Asia, home to over half of the world's hungry, faces similar challenges, with 384.5 million people affected.

Economically, inflation plays a significant role in food prices. For instance, Finland's inflation rate has shown a downward trend, yet certain food items have seen substantial price increases. In contrast, Czechia has experienced a decrease in food prices, highlighting regional disparities in economic conditions and consumer behavior. Tax policies, such as reducing VAT on basic foods, could alleviate some financial burdens and improve access to nutrition.

Politically, the UN's goal of zero hunger by 2030 is increasingly at risk, with projections indicating that 582 million people may remain chronically undernourished. This failure to meet targets can lead to social unrest and instability, particularly in regions already affected by conflict and economic shocks.

Geographically, the vulnerability of the global food system is heightened by climate change, which disproportionately impacts agricultural productivity in developing regions. National security is also at stake, as food insecurity can lead to increased migration, conflict over resources, and challenges to governance. Addressing these multifaceted issues requires coordinated international efforts and sustainable policies to ensure food security for all.