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SDG2 – Zero Hunger

New Vocabulary

  • inflation
  • food insecurity
  • suffer
  • impact
  • maize
  • commodity
  • brunt
  • disruption
  • stunting
  • malnutrition

Practice the new vocabulary

Zero Hunger Vocabulary (text version)

Match the words to their definitions.

Words:

  • suffer
  • malnutrition
  • commodity
  • brunt
  • food insecurity
  • stunting
  • inflation
  • disruption
  • impact
  • maize

Definitions:

  1. the rate at which prices increase
  2. the inability to get enough food to be healthy
  3. to experience physical or mental pain
  4. the effect that something has on someone or another thing
  5. another word for corn
  6. a product that is bought or sold
  7. the burden or strong force of something
  8. when something stops and does not continue because of an interruption
  9. the inability to grow to full size
  10. the act of being sick because of the lack of healthy food

Check your answer in footnote[1]

Activity source: Zero Hunger Vocabulary by Virginia McHardy, CC BY-NC 4.0

Zero Hunger Vocabulary – Fill in the words (text version)

Dear Nilay –

It was so great to hear from you. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to update you on what I’ve been doing here.

As you know, I’m working with an organization to help the local community to learn new ways of farming and storing food to decrease their [Blank 1]. The area [Blank 2] terribly from the hot temperatures and drought. This, of course, has a very big [Blank 3]  on their ability to grow enough food. To make things worse, there are often rainstorms that flood the fields and cause a [Blank 4] to the growing season.

It is the children who feel the [Blank 5] of this situation the most and we can see it in the [Blank 6] and [Blank 7] that is being monitored by the doctors on our team.

The good news is that we have discovered that [Blank 8] is a hardy and nutritious crop, that is very good at surviving the high temperatures and extreme weather. The local farmers have been experimenting with this crop and are having much success. If they can grow enough to feed their communities and still have enough to sell, they will have a good [Blank 9] that will bring in enough money to purchase other things the community needs, including more farming tools. This small business opportunity will also help to protect them against [Blank 10], because they will not have to always rely on others for their food.

So, as you can see, we are making good progress. It is a beautiful country, and I hope you get a chance to visit soon.

Your friend,
Yuki

Check your answers in footnote[2]

Activity source: Zero Hunger Vocabulary by Donna Naylor, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Zero Hunger

 

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (n.d.) Goal 2 Infographic:

There are several factors at play when we discuss the reasons for today’s global food crisis. You can see in your own lives that the rise of inflation is affecting prices of gas, clothing and most importantly, food. As well, the pandemic of COVID 19 contributed to the already rising number of food insecurity concerns. In fact, almost 828 million people may have suffered from hunger in 2021 (unstats.un.org, 2022). In addition, we cannot forget the impact that the war has had on food supply from both Ukraine and Russia. Those countries have been a huge source of wheat, maize and sunflower products for countries around the world. In turn, the lack of these commodities has caused the rising cost of food and supply chain disruptions. The poorest countries are feeling the biggest brunt. According to the infographic above from the United Nations, 1 in 10 people globally are suffering from hunger, 37% more countries were affected by rising food costs in 2020 from the previous year, and 149.2 million children in 2020 suffered from stunting. As a matter of fact, children experience low weight and overweight, both signs of malnutrition from lack of fresh, nutritious food.

Canadian Perspective

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture (text version)

Moderate and severe food insecurity in Canada

In 2019, Nunavut had the highest food insecurity rate in Canada. The other territories had the second and third highest rates.

Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), Rate of food insecurity (appearing as column headers).
Geography Rate of food insecurity
Nunavut 46.1
Northwest Territories 23.1
Yukon 15.3

Of the 10 provinces, Alberta had the highest food insecurity rate in 2020 and Quebec had the lowest rate.

Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), Rate of food insecurity (appearing as column headers).
Geography Rate of food insecurity
Alberta 15.1
Quebec 8.6

Social implications

In 2020, 1 in 10 families were unable to afford the food they needed.

Rates of food insecurity by family type in 2020
Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3. The information is grouped by Family type (appearing as row headers), Rate of food insecurity (appearing as column headers).
Family type Rate of food insecurity
Persons in female lone-parent families 30.0
Persons in elderly couple families 3.0
Agri-environmental sustainability

The agri-environmental indicators measure the agriculture and agri-food sector’s environmental performance. The indexes draw broad, national-level observations on the status and trends of sustainability of the agriculture and agri-food sector.

Progress of sustainability in Canadian agriculture from 2001 to 2016
Table 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 4. The information is grouped by Agri-environmental indicator (appearing as row headers), Percent improvement (appearing as column headers).
Agri-environmental indicator Percent improvement
Air quality 14.5
Biodiversity quality 5.9
Soil quality 2.7
Water quality 4.1
Community spotlight – Food Banks Canada

In collaboration with a supportive food bank network in Canada, Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow. In March 2021, 2,332 food banks Canada-wide noted:

  • 1.3M total visits providing 3.2M meals & snacks
  • 33% of clients were children
  • 46% of households were single adult

Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Income Survey, 2019/2020. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Index of Agri-Environmental Sustainability. Food Banks Canada.

Source: Goal 2, Zero Hunger In Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2022 by Statistics Canada, used under Open License

 

Discussion Questions

Use the new vocabulary words in these discussion questions. Ask and answer in partners or small groups:

  1. How does inflation affect the price of food and contribute to global hunger, particularly in low-income countries?
  2. In what ways does food insecurity impact both individuals and communities? Can you think of specific examples where food insecurity is a major issue?
  3. What are the long-term effects on individuals and societies when large portions of the population suffer from hunger and malnutrition?
  4. How do natural disasters and conflict zones impact food production and distribution, leading to higher rates of hunger?
  5. Why is maize considered an essential crop in combating global hunger, and how might a disruption in maize production affect food security?
  6. How do fluctuations in global commodity prices, such as those of wheat, maize, or rice, affect developing nations struggling with hunger?
  7. Which regions or populations tend to bear the brunt of global hunger, and why are they more vulnerable than others?
  8. How has climate change led to disruptions in food supply chains, and what strategies can be used to reduce its impact on global hunger?
  9. What is stunting, and how does it relate to chronic malnutrition in children? How does this condition affect a country’s future development?
  10. How can governments and international organizations work together to reduce malnutrition, and what are the challenges they face in doing so?

Watch the video:

Watch Goal 2 – Zero hunger (2 mins) on YouTube

Video source: UNStats. (2022b, July 7). Goal 2 – Zero hunger [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqG-wf_H5KU

Zero Hunger Video (text version)
  1. What are some reasons for food insecurity these days?
    1. No local gardens
    2. Animals eating crops
    3. Conflict, climate change and social inequalities
    4. Inflation
  2. True or false? Ten percent of the world’s population is suffering from hunger.
  3. Fill in the blank: The [Blank 1] caused food scarcity for the global poor.
  4. Fill in the blanks: In [Blank a] there were [Blank b] of countries that were affected by the high cost of food. In [Blank c] that percentage went up to [Blank d].
  5. How many children from ages 0-5 years did not grow properly because of lack of food?
    1. Almost 15 million
    2. Almost 150 million
    3. Almost 1500 million

Check your answer in footnote[3]

Activity source: Zero Hunger Video Questions by Virginia McHardy, CC BY-NC 4.0

What Can We Do in Our Day-to-Day Lives? 

Every one of us can do something to have a positive impact on this goal. Here are some suggestions:

Support Food Banks:

  • Donate non-perishable food to a local food bank. Even a can or two can make a difference to a hungry person or family.
  • Volunteer at a local food bank; make it a fun outing by asking family and/or friends to go with you.

Support Meal Programs:

  • It is very hard to learn on an empty stomach. Many elementary schools host breakfast programs, so children do not start their day hungry.
  • Consider volunteering in an existing local school program, or if you are able, donate food or money.
  • If there is not a breakfast program in your local school and you see a need, speak to the principal about starting one.
  • Many communities have meal centres or soup kitchens to help feed those who are experiencing homeless or do not have regular access to shelter.
  • Consider volunteering in such a program or if you are able, donate food or money.
  • Give fruits or snacks you don’t want to someone who needs and is asking for help.
  • Consider carrying a box of non-perishable snacks in your car (such as granola bars) so they are available for just such a purpose if you see someone at a streetlight or corner.

Pay it Forward:

  • Look for a local restaurant that lets diners buy an extra meal so that others who cannot afford it can have a meal of nutritious food.  The Nelson Street Pub, located in Pembroke, Ontario does this; perhaps there is one in your community as well.
  • If you personally know a restaurant owner, suggest a similar program.

Buy Local:

  • Help small business owners in your community feed their own families by purchasing from them instead of travelling to big box stores or ordering online.
  • Find a Goal 2 charity you want to support. Any donation, big or small, can make a difference!

Are You Food-Insecure Yourself?

Make it, don’t buy it.

  • It is very easy to get into the habit of buying your lunch or grabbing a coffee on your way to work or school, but this can become very expensive without you even realizing it. These items cost much more than making them at home.
  • Make it part of your routine to make your lunch or pack some snacks for the upcoming day. Make coffee (or tea) at home and put it into a reuseable travel mug to take with you when you head out in the morning.

Create a menu plan.

  • Carefully planning out nutritious meals helps you to know how much and what kind of food you need. This keeps you from buying food that doesn’t get used, and can also take the stress out of getting daily meals on the table in your busy life.

Don’t waste food.

  • If you’ve bought more food than you or your family can use, or you have leftover food, package it well, label it and put it in the freezer to be used later.

Avoid purchasing single serving items.

  • Lunch and snack items like single servings of fruit, pudding, juice, etc. are very convenient, but very expensive.
  • Instead, purchase larger packages of these items and fill small, reuseable containers for day to day use. You will save money, and reduce the amount of garbage you produce at the same time!

Shop around.

  • There are many grocery stores and markets to choose from and the place that is most convenient to you is not always the place with the best prices. Shop around to find the best deals.

Look for sales, use coupons and points cards.

  • Most grocery stores have weekly sales and offer coupons or even have loyalty cards that allow you to get discounts on your purchases.
  • Look for these and use them. Each one may not be worth much on its own, but they add up quickly.

Organize a potluck dinner and share the leftovers.

  • When friends or family come together for a potluck meal, everyone contributes something and together, the group creates a feast, which almost always results in leftover food.
  • Instead of just taking home any leftover food you brought, encourage everyone to take some of everything. This way, the food doesn’t go to waste and everyone has food for at least one additional meal.

Grow your own food.

  • Seeds do not cost a lot of money, and growing your own food can also bring satisfaction to individuals or provide a wonderful family learning activity.
  • In a small space or home without a yard, grow vegetables such as tomatoes, peas or beans in containers.
  • Find out if there is a community garden in your area. Plots are often free or very inexpensive and you can grow foods for your own use and/or to share with friends and family.
  • If you have the space, plant a vegetable garden in your yard. This will provide fresh food in late summer and early fall, and many vegetables can be frozen or canned for winter use.

If getting enough nutritious food is a very big challenge, use some of the ideas above – enroll your children in a school meal program or register at your local food bank. 

Key Targets for SDG 2

  • 2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
  • 2.2 By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons.
  • 2.3 By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
  • 2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
  • 2.5 By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed.
Photo by cottonbro studio, Pexels license

Assignment/Homework:

Donate to or Volunteer for a Local Food Bank or Meal Program:

Almost every town or city has a food bank or meal program to help support its residents in need and they all need our support.

A. Find out what programs are in your area and what their most pressing needs are. Then, get involved by doing one of these things:

  • Create a list of the foods that are most needed, and purchase them and/or collect from your own cupboards.
  • Volunteer to work at the location, helping to stock shelves, package or distribute food to those in need.
  • Organize a food drive in your community, or even amongst your friends, family or co-workers and deliver what you collect.

B. Reflect on your experience by considering questions such as these.

  • How did you feel about the action before you took it? How did you feel after?
  • Did you enjoy doing this? Why or why not?
  • Would you do this again? Why or why not?
  • What did you learn about your community or your community’s culture by doing this task?
  • What did you learn about yourself in this process?
  • What other insights would you like to share?

You can read more about Goal #2 in The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 from the UN.:

For instructors, please visit York University’s The SDGs-in-the-Classroom Toolkit for lesson ideas

Attribution & References

Except where otherwise noted, this page is created by Virginia McHardy, CC BY-NC 4.0

References

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). Goal 2 [Infographic]. Sustainable Development Goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal2

  1. 1. inflation, 2. food insecurity, 3. suffer, 4. impact, 5. maize, 6. commodity, 7. brunt, 8. disruption, 9. stunting, 10. malnutrition ↵
  2. 1. food insecurity, 2. suffers, 3. impact, 4. disruption, 5. brunt, 6. malnutrition, 7. stunting, 8. maize, 9. commodity, 10. inflation ↵
  3. 1. c, 2. true. 3. Ukraine crisis, 4. a. 2019, b. 16%, c. 2020, d. 47%, 5. b ↵
definition

License

DRAFT: SDGs for EAP Learners Copyright © by Donna Naylor and Virginia McHardy. All Rights Reserved.

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