Hunger Hub
Our greatest challenge worldwide
Hunger and food insecurity is still the greatest ongoing challenge we face globally.
In 2020, one in three people couldn't access adequate food. The UN found that people affected by hunger increased in 2020 under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 2.37 billion people – or an increase of almost 320 million people going hungry or eating poorly worldwide.
Even in wealthy countries like Australia, food insecurity is a real issue – with up to 13% of the population unable to access sufficient, nutritious food in 2020 alone.
Dairy to the rescue
Financial hardship, low nutritional literacy and limited access to affordable healthy options are some of the biggest causes of hunger and food insecurity.
This is where dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt can help as an affordable source of quality nutrition.
Through supporting prosperity in local communities, improving access to nutritious food, and applying sustainable farming practices, Australian dairy is committed to addressing world hunger and improving food security in Australia into the future.
Find out how dairy can address world hunger and improve food security below.
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Dairy’s contribution to a fairer world
Dairy’s contribution to a fairer world
World hunger is driven by food insecurity, which is caused by factors such as conflict, poverty, food shortages, and lack of access to nutritious food at affordable prices.
As the pandemic continues to present economic challenges for communities around the world, it is more important than ever that we combat food insecurity by transforming our food systems to deliver affordable, healthy solutions. Australian dairy is leading the pack by contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals with its own Sustainability Framework. With goals and targets to 2030, this framework drives innovation and continuous improvement in the Australian dairy sector.
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How dairy can help solve world hunger
How dairy can help solve world hunger
The key to solving the hunger crisis is to create a truly sustainable food system that protects the future of our planet whilst continuing to adequately nourish its population.
Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yoghurt are affordable sources of quality protein and other essential nutrients for good health. Australian dairy companies are at the forefront of providing nutritious food to those in need while also reducing waste through a national milk program in partnership with Foodbank.
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Dairy is healthy and affordable
Dairy is healthy and affordable
The Nutrient Rich Foods Index is a scoring system that ranks foods by their nutrient content.
A study conducted by the American Society for Nutrition analysed the nine food groups determined by the United States Department of Agriculture for nutrition value and price. Milk and other dairy products were found to be one of the healthiest and affordable food groups.
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Dairy – a diet staple for a reason
Dairy – a diet staple for a reason
98% of Australian households regularly buy milk – and for good reason. Cambridge University showed that replacing dairy foods with non-dairy items in a person's diet could carry several negative outcomes.
To replace the nutrient shortfall when removing dairy from the diet, people would need to eat more food contributing to higher energy intake. This is more expensive and less viable for low-income families or individuals struggling with food insecurity.
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Dairy – good for people, good for food systems
Dairy – good for people, good for food systems
The American Dairy Science Association recently looked at what would happen if dairy cows were removed from the US agricultural system altogether.
They found that the availability of essential micronutrients such as choline, calcium, and vitamin A would drastically decline – with little difference to absolute greenhouse gas emissions made in return. This shows the importance of dairy in the food chain.
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Healthy sustainable diets
Healthy sustainable diets
Sustainable diets take into account the long-term impacts of the foods we choose to eat and produce. They take into account our health, the health of communities, and the health of the planet.
Not only does dairy play an important role nutritionally in our diets, but as part of a wider sustainable food system.
