IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jfpoli/v104y2021ics0306919221001299.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The global cost of reaching a world without hunger: Investment costs and policy action opportunities

Author

Listed:
  • Chichaibelu, Bezawit Beyene
  • Bekchanov, Maksud
  • von Braun, Joachim
  • Torero, Maximo

Abstract

This study developed a marginal abatement cost curve to identify a mix of least-cost investment options with the highest potential for hunger reduction, hunger here defined by the undernourishment concept of the Food and Agriculture Organization. Twenty-two different interventions are considered for reducing undernourishment relying on information drawn from best available evidence-based literature, including model- and large-scale intervention studies. Ending hunger by 2030 would require annual investments of about US$ 39 to 50 billion until 2030 to lift about 840 to 909 million people out of hunger, which is the 2020 estimate of hunger projection in 2030, also considering the effects of COVID-19. Investing in agricultural R&D, agricultural extension services, ICT - Agricultural information systems, small-scale irrigation expansion in Africa and female literacy improvement are low cost options that have a relatively large hunger-reduction potential. To achieve the goal of ending hunger by 2030, not only is it urgent not to lose any more time, but also to optimally phase investments. Investments that have more long-term impacts should be frontloaded in the decade in order to reap their benefits soon before 2030. A balanced approach is needed to reach the hungry soon – including those adversely affected by COVID-19 with social protection and nutrition programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Chichaibelu, Bezawit Beyene & Bekchanov, Maksud & von Braun, Joachim & Torero, Maximo, 2021. "The global cost of reaching a world without hunger: Investment costs and policy action opportunities," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:104:y:2021:i:c:s0306919221001299
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102151
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919221001299
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102151?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rosegrant, Mark W. & Koo, Jawoo & Cenacchi, Nicola & Ringler, Claudia & Robertson, Richard D. & Fisher, Myles & Cox, Cindy M. & Garrett, Karen & Perez, Nicostrato D. & Sabbagh, Pascale, 2014. "Food security in a world of natural resource scarcity: The role of agricultural technologies," IFPRI books, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), number 978-0-89629-847-7.
    2. Schneider, Uwe A. & McCarl, Bruce A. & Schmid, Erwin, 2007. "Agricultural sector analysis on greenhouse gas mitigation in US agriculture and forestry," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 94(2), pages 128-140, May.
    3. Jeffrey D. Sachs & Guido Schmidt-Traub & Mariana Mazzucato & Dirk Messner & Nebojsa Nakicenovic & Johan Rockström, 2019. "Six Transformations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(9), pages 805-814, September.
    4. Ragasa, Catherine & Mazunda, John, 2018. "The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 25-47.
    5. Mason-D'Croz, Daniel & Sulser, Timothy B. & Wiebe, Keith & Rosegrant, Mark W. & Lowder, Sarah K. & Nin-Pratt, Alejandro & Willenbockel, Dirk & Robinson, Sherman & Zhu, Tingju & Cenacchi, Nicola & Duns, 2019. "Agricultural investments and hunger in Africa modeling potential contributions to SDG2 – Zero Hunger," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 38-53.
    6. Christopher B. Barrett & Tim G. Benton & Karen A. Cooper & Jessica Fanzo & Rikin Gandhi & Mario Herrero & Steven James & Mark Kahn & Daniel Mason-D’Croz & Alexander Mathys & Rebecca J. Nelson & Jianbo, 2020. "Bundling innovations to transform agri-food systems," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(12), pages 974-976, December.
    7. World Bank, 2020. "The African Continental Free Trade Area," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 34139.
    8. Smith, Lisa C. & Haddad, Lawrence, 2015. "Reducing Child Undernutrition: Past Drivers and Priorities for the Post-MDG Era," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 180-204.
    9. Tomoko Hasegawa & Shinichiro Fujimori & Petr Havlík & Hugo Valin & Benjamin Leon Bodirsky & Jonathan C. Doelman & Thomas Fellmann & Page Kyle & Jason F. L. Koopman & Hermann Lotze-Campen & Daniel Maso, 2018. "Risk of increased food insecurity under stringent global climate change mitigation policy," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(8), pages 699-703, August.
    10. Christopher B. Barrett, 2021. "Overcoming Global Food Security Challenges through Science and Solidarity," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 103(2), pages 422-447, March.
    11. Fabian Kesicki & Paul Ekins, 2012. "Marginal abatement cost curves: a call for caution," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(2), pages 219-236, March.
    12. Rosegrant, Mark W. & Koo, Jawoo & Cenacchi, Nicola & Ringler, Claudia & Robertson, Richard D. & Fisher, Myles & Cox, Cindy M. & Garrett, Karen & Perez, Nicostrato D. & Sabbagh, Pascale, 2014. "Synopsis of Food security in a world of natural resource scarcity: The role of agricultural technologies:," Issue briefs 81, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    13. Klepper, Gernot & Peterson, Sonja, 2006. "Marginal abatement cost curves in general equilibrium: The influence of world energy prices," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 1-23, January.
    14. Fan, Shenggen & Headey, Derek D. & Laborde Debucquet, David & Mason-D’Croz, Daniel & Rue, Christopher & Sulser, Timothy B. & Wiebe, Keith D., 2018. "Quantifying the cost and benefits of ending hunger and undernutrition: Examining the differences among alternative approaches," Issue briefs 978-089629-299-4, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    15. Headey, Derek D., 2013. "Developmental Drivers of Nutritional Change: A Cross-Country Analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 76-88.
    16. Hidrobo, Melissa & Hoddinott, John & Kumar, Neha & Olivier, Meghan, 2018. "Social Protection, Food Security, and Asset Formation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 88-103.
    17. Ecker, Olivier & Qaim, Matin, 2011. "Analyzing Nutritional Impacts of Policies: An Empirical Study for Malawi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 412-428, March.
    18. You, Liangzhi & Ringler, Claudia & Wood-Sichra, Ulrike & Robertson, Richard & Wood, Stanley & Zhu, Tingju & Nelson, Gerald & Guo, Zhe & Sun, Yan, 2011. "What is the irrigation potential for Africa? A combined biophysical and socioeconomic approach," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 770-782.
    19. Simone Passarelli & Dawit Mekonnen & Elizabeth Bryan & Claudia Ringler, 2018. "Evaluating the pathways from small-scale irrigation to dietary diversity: evidence from Ethiopia and Tanzania," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(4), pages 981-997, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hiroyuki Takeshima, 2024. "Public Expenditure’s Role in Reducing Poverty and Improving Food and Nutrition Security: Cross-Country Evidence from SPEED Data," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(5), pages 1045-1073, October.
    2. Kornher, Lukas & Kubik, Zaneta & Chichaibelu, Bezawit Beyene & Torero Cullen, Maximo, 2023. "The aid-nutrition link – Does targeted development assistance related to food systems matter?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. von Braun, Joachim & Beyene Chichaibelu, Bezawit & Laborde, David & Torero Cullen, Maximo, 2024. "Cost of Ending Hunger – Consequences of Complacency, and Financial Needs for SDG2 Achievement," Discussion Papers 343159, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    2. Seth R. Gitter & James Manley & Jill Bernstein & Paul Winters, 2022. "Do agricultural support and cash transfer programmes improve nutritional status?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(1), pages 203-235, January.
    3. Prager, Steven D. & Wiebe, Keith D., 2022. "Strategic foresight in One CGIAR: Gaps and needs in approaches and capacity," Other briefs January 2022, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Chan, Chin Yee & Prager, Steven & Balie, Jean & Kozicka, Marta & Hareau, Guy & Valera, Harold Glenn & Tran, Nhuong & Wiebe, Keith & Diagne, Mandiaye & Alene, Arega, 2021. "The Future of Food Security, Nutrition and Health for Agri-food Systems Transformation," SocArXiv qgn9u, Center for Open Science.
    5. Prager, Steven & Wiebe, Keith, 2021. "Strategic Foresight in the One CGIAR: Gaps and Needs in Approaches and Capacity," SocArXiv 7kfxv, Center for Open Science.
    6. Stads, Gert-Jan & Wiebe, Keith D. & Nin-Pratt, Alejandro & Sulser, Timothy B. & Benfica, Rui & Reda, Fasil & Khetarpal, Ravi, 2022. "Research for the future: Investments for efficiency, sustainability, and equity," IFPRI book chapters, in: 2022 Global food policy report: Climate change and food systems, chapter 4, pages 38-47, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    7. Cenacchi, Nicola, 2014. "Drought risk reduction in agriculture: A review of adaptive strategies in East Africa and the Indo-Gangetic plain of South Asia:," IFPRI discussion papers 1372, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    8. Claudia Ringler & Menaal Ebrahim, 2015. "Policy Nook: "Climate Change and Water: What Can Economics Tell Us?"," Water Economics and Policy (WEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 1(03), pages 1-7.
    9. Athanasios Petsakos & Guy Hareau & Ulrich Kleinwechter & Keith Wiebe & Timothy B Sulser, 2018. "Comparing modeling approaches for assessing priorities in international agricultural research," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 27(2), pages 145-156.
    10. Sébastien Mary & Kelsey Shaw & Sergio Gomez y Paloma, 2019. "Does the sectoral composition of growth affect child stunting reductions?," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 37(2), pages 225-244, March.
    11. Renato Vargas & Pamela Escobar & Maynor Cabrera & Javier Cabrera & Violeta Hernández & Vivian Guzmán & Martin Cicowiez, 2017. "Climate risk and food security in Guatemala," Working Papers MPIA 2017-01, PEP-MPIA.
    12. Brown,Caitlin Susan & Kandpal,Eeshani & Lee,Jean Nahrae & Williams,Anaise Marie, 2022. "Unequal Households or Communities ? Decomposing the Inequality in Nutritional Status in South Asia," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10009, The World Bank.
    13. Weiwei Xiong & Katsumasa Tanaka & Philippe Ciais & Daniel J. A. Johansson & Mariliis Lehtveer, 2022. "emIAM v1.0: an emulator for Integrated Assessment Models using marginal abatement cost curves," Papers 2212.12060, arXiv.org.
    14. Mary, Sebastien & Shaw, Kelsey & Colen, Liesbeth & Gomez y Paloma, Sergio, 2020. "Does agricultural aid reduce child stunting?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    15. Van den Bergh, Kenneth & Delarue, Erik, 2015. "Quantifying CO2 abatement costs in the power sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 88-97.
    16. Heitmann, Nadine & Peterson, Sonja, 2012. "The potential contribution of the shipping sector to an efficient reduction of global carbon dioxide emissions," Kiel Working Papers 1813, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    17. Benjamin Dequiedt & Dominic Moran, 2014. "The cost of emissions mitigation by legume crops in French agriculture," Working Papers 1410, Chaire Economie du climat.
    18. Eory, Vera, 2015. "Evaluating the use of marginal abatement cost curves applied to greenhouse gas abatement in agriculture," Working Papers 199777, Scotland's Rural College (formerly Scottish Agricultural College), Land Economy & Environment Research Group.
    19. Shenggen Fan, 2016. "A Nexus Approach to Food, Water, and Energy: Sustainably Meeting Asia’s Future Food and Nutrition Requirements," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 55(4), pages 297-311.
    20. Mekonnen, Dawit & Abate, Gashaw & Yimam, Seid, 2021. "Irrigation and Agricultural Transformation in Ethiopia," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315339, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:104:y:2021:i:c:s0306919221001299. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/foodpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.