SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Goal: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture

Global Context

Approximately 735 million people faced chronic hunger in 2022, a figure that has risen since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, climate change, and economic downturns. Agriculture employs 26% of the global workforce and is both a major contributor to and victim of environmental degradation. The global food system accounts for roughly one-third of greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously being threatened by climate change, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss.

Key Targets

Key targets include ending hunger and ensuring access to safe, nutritious food (2.1), ending all forms of malnutrition (2.2), doubling agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers (2.3), ensuring sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices (2.4), and maintaining genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants, and farmed animals (2.5).

Business Contribution

Businesses contribute through sustainable agriculture practices (regenerative farming, reduced pesticide use, soil health management), food waste reduction across the value chain (approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted annually), nutrition improvement (product reformulation, fortification, affordable nutritious options), and fair supply chain practices (fair prices for smallholder farmers, capacity building, climate-resilient crop development). The food and agriculture sector faces particular scrutiny on deforestation-free supply chains, water use efficiency, and labour conditions.

Measurement & Reporting

GRI 203 (Indirect Economic Impacts), GRI 413 (Local Communities), SASB Food & Beverage sector standards, SASB Agricultural Products standards. The Food and Agriculture Benchmark by the World Benchmarking Alliance assesses the 350 most influential food and agriculture companies.

Primary Sources

UN FAO, World Food Programme, CGIAR, IFPRI

From ESG Library

• ESG & GRI Reporting Made Simple — SDG mapping and disclosure guidance
• Practical Guide to ESG Integration — Integrating SDGs into business strategy

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Related Topics

• GRI Standards
• UN Global Compact
• Environmental SDGs
• Social SDGs
• Governance SDGs

References

• UN SDGs — Goal 2 — official targets and indicators for Goal 2
• UN SDGs — the 17 goals and 169 targets (adopted 2015, 2030 Agenda)
• UN — Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda — the founding resolution