March 29, 2026

This hopeful video produced by the World Bank explains in broad outline the extent of hunger around the globe, the costs in terms of less productive workers and more sickness, and the solutions. Unfortunately, this film from 2011 has not aged well: hunger is still widely prevalent, both in impoverished African nations and even in the wealthiest countries including the United States. (World Bank; 2011; 2’49”)

In this brief video, Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank Group, explains that even with 800 million people going to bed hungry, countries can end hunger by 2030. But they need to create systems that raise agricultural productivity in rural areas, improve nutritional outcomes, and invest in more climate-smart agriculture that can withstand a warmer planet. Unfortunately, the covid epidemic, the demise of USAID, and other factors ensure that hunger will not be ended by 2030. (World Bank Group, Future of Food; 2015; 1’22”)

Hunger and malnutrition cost the global economy over three trillion dollars every year. This United Nations video estimates that eliminating hunger would cost only one-tenth that amount. One way to reduce hunger would be to use much of the one-third of all food that is currently wasted. (United Nations’ World Food Program; 2017; 1’52”)