About 80 percent of the world's poorest people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods and food security. 60 percent of the extreme poor live in fragile or environmentally vulnerable countries, or in protracted crises.

As income inequalities continue to increase, between 657 million and 676 million people are projected to be living in extreme poverty in 2022.

The poor often do not have access to basic services and infrastructure, social protection, technologies and markets that would boost their productivity and income, preventing them from investing in their land and livelihoods.

After remaining relatively unchanged since 2015, the number of people affected by hunger increased considerable in 2020 and continued to rise in 2021, to 828 million (9.8 percent of the world population). Today, 3.1 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet, and 45 million children under the age of five suffer from wasting, the deadliest form of malnutrition. Conflicts, climate change and economic shocks, combined with growing inequalities, are among the causes of rising global hunger.

Looking forward, projections are that nearly 670 million people will still be facing hunger in 2030. Getting back on track to end poverty and hunger requires the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, leaving no one behind.

Food and agriculture lie at the heart of the 2030 Agenda. Most of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contain targets that are linked, either directly or indirectly, to food security and nutrition, and around 70 percent of these targets require actions in rural areas. Addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty is crucial to meet the 2030 Agenda and build a sustainable, and food secure future for all.