863. SDG Progress Report on Agriculture and Food 2023

The Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, a critical global milestone, is now halfway to its deadline. As part of this agenda, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is contributing to eight agriculture and food-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goals 1 (No poverty), 2 (Zero hunger), 5 (Gender equality), 6 (Clean water and sanitation), 10 (Reduced inequalities), 12 (Responsible consumption and production), 14 (Life below water) and 15 (Life on land). On September 15, FAO released its annual report, Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators 2023, which assesses progress toward these goals.

The report, which is available in both PDF and online formats, includes additional indicators. Notably, this year's edition introduces an overarching assessment of progress on SDG 2, bringing together data from all indicators that aim for zero hunger, including those outside FAO's purview.

Unfortunately, progress on several food and agriculture-related targets has either stalled or regressed. Even before the 2020 challenge, the world was already off course in achieving the SDGs. Subsequently, a series of crises, including the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, global armed conflicts, severe inflation, and an escalating climate crisis, have further impeded or reversed progress.

Nevertheless, the vision of a world free of hunger and malnutrition while practicing sustainable agriculture remains achievable. However, achieving these SDG targets will require immediate action and robust policy solutions. These actions should include addressing entrenched inequalities, revolutionizing agriculture and food systems, investing in sustainable agricultural practices, and building resilience to various shocks.

In this effort, data plays a critical role in driving progress. The report underscores the urgent need to accelerate investment in data generation, particularly in the least developed countries, where significant data gaps persist and hinder comprehensive assessment and informed decision-making.
 

Reference
FAO. 2023. Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators 2023. Rome.　https://doi.org/10.4060/cc7088en [Accessed on Sep 19, 2023]

Contributor: SHIRATORI Sakiko (Information and Public Relations Office)