Last week, during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, global leaders reported to the world on the progress of the Millennium Development Goals including efforts to end chronic hunger and malnutrition. Ending hunger has been at the top of the international development agenda since the global food price spikes in 2007 and 2008 and the resulting rise in hunger and malnutrition. For the first time, the number of hungry people in the world surpassed one billion, and the world was spurred into action. At the G-8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy in 2009, the United States pledged $3.5 billion to international agricultural development, and over 40 nations and international organizations pledged $22 billion to improve global food security.
Ending world hunger requires comprehensive, coordinated action from governments, donors, international organizations, academics, civil society, and business leaders and innovators, focusing efforts on promoting inclusive economic growth that can lift people out of poverty in a sustainable way. Malnutrition threatens the health and development of citizens and the stability of societies, and can undermine good governance, leading to conflict and violence.
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