We can’t hope to solve the problem of hunger overnight. We have to set clear, realistic goals and deadlines. That’s what FAO has done.

In 1996, FAO brought together nearly 200 world leaders at the Organization’s headquarters in Rome for the World Food Summit. There, those leaders committed to cutting the number of undernourished people in the world by half by 2015.

At the time the number of hungry stood at between 830 and 840 million people. This means the World Food Summit goal is to bring the number down to nearly 400 million by 2015.

In 2000 at the Millennium Summit held at UN headquarters in New York, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to this goal. But they expressed it slightly differently. They promised to work together to reduce by half the proportion of people suffering from hunger. This is a slightly easier target to reach.

A total of eight goals were agreed on at the Millennium Summit. Find out more about these Millennium Development Goals.

How are we doing?

Well, we wish we could say that we’re on track to meet the World Food Summit goal, but the truth is we’re not.

Some countries have made progress in reducing the number of hungry people. During the first five years after the World Food Summit, the number of hungry people in developing countries decreased slightly, falling under 800 million. But since 2000, the numbers have climbed back up again.

We must do more. To live up to their promises, governments of the world need to increase their efforts to reduce hunger.

And you can help. Find out how you can get involved.