Published on: 2026-08-10
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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August 10, 2026 Economic Development
Most countries in the world will not be able to achieve the international goals on food systems by 2030. This was reported today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO experts refer to data from a new study published in the journal Nature Food.
The analysis covered 197 countries and territories and 44 indicators related to nutrition, healthcare, environment, and living standards. According to the report, most countries have achieved only one of the 30 key indicators – a high level of mobile communication coverage. For 22 indicators, less than a third of countries will be able to meet the set targets by 2030.
One of the most serious problems remains the greenhouse gas emissions from food systems. The path to the target level in this area has been completed only by a quarter, and no country will be able to achieve the set goal at the current pace of change.
The authors of the study note that many regions will have to sharply increase their efforts. For example, Africa needs an annual improvement of at least 15–20 percent in 23 indicators, while Asia must reduce the level of food insecurity by more than 63 percent each year.
Regions with high income levels are also not an exception. In Europe, at the current pace, it will not be possible to achieve 19 indicators by 2030.
“The transformation of food systems requires accelerated progress – without this, achievements risk remaining merely ornamental. We can no longer afford to continue acting at the current pace,” stated Mario Herrero, professor at the School of Global Development and Environment at Cornell University.
At the same time, the study revealed positive trends: for seven indicators, at least one-third of countries are already progressing in line with the goals for 2030; half of all indicators at the global level show positive dynamics.
Experts emphasize that a key condition for accelerating reforms is to increase the efficiency of public administration, accountability of authorities, and broaden the participation of civil society. In their opinion, these factors are precisely what can ensure progress in all other areas of food policy.
The authors of the report urge the international community to intensify efforts, focusing on access to healthy nutrition, combating food insecurity, improving the effectiveness of governance, and reducing emissions from food systems. In their assessment, without accelerating reforms, many global goals will have to be postponed to 2050.
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