Encoding global food security
Target 2.C Adopt measures to ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets and their derivatives and facilitate timely access to market information, including on food reserves, in order to help limit extreme food price volatility.
While the world faces no shortage of food, an astonishing one-third of all produced food (approximately 2.5 billion tons) goes to waste annually, spanning the entire food production, distribution, and storage chain. The transformative power of digitalisation has revolutionised logistical chains, offering solutions ranging from the simplest to the most cutting-edge technologies.
Basic yet effective digital solutions, such as feature phones coupled with SMS systems, enable small-scale farmers to transport their produce alongside passing trucks to nearby markets. Apps that notify consumers of discounted offerings at eateries prevent food wastage. Furthermore, advanced digital tools, including satellite imagery for road and traffic assessment or the implementation of 5G technology for efficient cargo handling at ports, contribute significantly to curbing hunger by optimizing supply chains.
In the agricultural sector, smart solutions driven by digital technology are enhancing sustainability. Weather stations predict pest outbreaks, while soil sample analysis empowers farmers to use precise amounts of fertilizers, reducing unnecessary usage [consider images of soil testing from InSTEDD?]. Collaborative platforms, like Wikimedia pages, facilitate the exchange of farming best practices among farmers, further bolstering sustainable agriculture through ICT.
These innovative digital interventions not only minimise food waste but also pave the way for a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient food system, aligning with the goals of SDG 2 to eradicate hunger and promote food security worldwide.
Innovation is a cornerstone of food security
SPIDER knows how to find partner organisations that keep innovating, keep remodelling plans to ensure that crops are monitored for diseases, for natural disaster or for agricultural prosperity where farmers have access to markets near and far.
We would love to increase work in digitalising for SDG 2 targets and coordinate international effort for food sercurty, ending hunger and ensuring nutritional health for populations to thrive.
Food Security & Nutritional project in Zambia during COVID-19
Explore SPIDER’s work for the Sustainable Development Goals
F.A.Q.
Can digitalisation make farming more efficient, eco-friendly and profitable? Yes, yes and yes.
How can digital technologies contribute to ending world hunger?
What challenges need to be addressed in implementing digital solutions for ending world hunger?
How can human centered digitalisation improve access to market information for farmers?
Farmers can use mobile apps and online platforms to access real-time market prices, demand forecasts, and supply chain information, enabling them to make informed decisions. They can have direct access to producers, enabling more serutity in using the produce of their work.