Undernourishment and food security
 777 million people in developing countries do not have access to sufficient and adequate food.
27 million people in countries in transition suffer from undernourishment, and 11 million in industrialized countries.
Food security is improving on a global scale:
- in 1965 in developing countries, the per capita food consumption was 2,054 kcal/person/day, in 1998 it had risen to 2,681.
- the largest increase was in East Asia, which went from 1,957 kcal/person/day in 1965 to 2,921 in 1998.
Food products and water requirements
Over the past few decades, consumption of meat in developing countries has grown at a rate of about 5 to 6% per year; consumption of milk and dairy products at 3 to 4%.
Poultry is the fastest-growing sector worldwide: it represented 13% of the meat production in the 1960s, compared to 28% currently.
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Agricultural water use
Approximately 70% of all available water is used for irrigation.
Land in agricultural use has increased by 12% since the 1960s to about 1.5 billion hectares.
Current global water withdrawals for irrigation are estimated at about 2,000 to 2,555 km3 per year.
Irrigated area as a proportion or irrigation potential in 1999:
- World: 50%
- Sub-Saharan Africa: 13%
- South Asia: more than 85%
Pasture and crops take up 37% of the Earth's land area.
Poor drainage and irrigation practices have led to waterlogging and salinization of approximately 10% of the world's irrigated lands.
Definitions
Food security: a situation that exists when all people, at all time, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
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UNESCO.ORG
