Study Shows How Dairy Can Help Fight Global Hunger

A recent report provides quantitative evidence for the potential impact dairying can have in eradicating hunger and showing the role dairy products play in providing balanced, healthy and safe nutrition.

It is one of a series of reports measuring dairy’s impact with regards to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); a previous one examined dairy’s role in fighting poverty, with more reports upcoming. GDP worked on the hunger report with partners Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL), UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock.

More than 800 million people are suffering from hunger on our planet. This hunger includes chronic food deprivation and malnutrition in the form of nutrient and micronutrient deficiencies as well as shortfalls in vitamins and essential metals. The majority of these people live in low- and middle-income countries and mostly in rural areas. They largely depend on agriculture and livestock.

The paper, “Dairy’s Impact on Reducing Global Hunger,” demonstrates the role dairying plays in tackling SDG2 – Zero Hunger. It provides quantitative evidence of how dairy reduces the adverse consequences of malnutrition, such as stunting and wasting.

The first research paper in the series, “Dairy Development’s Impact on Poverty Reduction,” examines how dairy can lift rural families and communities out of poverty,

GDP is finalizing a third paper in the series, which investigates improving gender equality and youth access to employment through dairy. It will be published in 2024.