The latest global assessment of food security and nutrition has been released, bringing together the expertise of five major United Nations agencies to examine how hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition are evolving around the world.

The 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, commonly known as SOFI 2026, is a joint publication of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization.

The annual report provides an important snapshot of the world’s progress toward ending hunger and improving nutrition while highlighting the continuing challenges facing vulnerable populations.

A Global Picture of Food Security

Food security is influenced by far more than the availability of food.

Whether people can obtain enough nutritious food depends on household incomes, food prices, employment, agricultural production, social protection, conflict, climate-related shocks and the stability of supply chains.

This makes food insecurity a complex global development issue rather than a problem that can be solved simply by increasing agricultural output.

The SOFI report brings together data and analysis from across these interconnected areas to assess the state of hunger and nutrition internationally.

Hunger and Malnutrition Remain Closely Connected

Hunger and malnutrition can take several forms.

Some people do not consume enough calories to meet their basic energy requirements, while others may have sufficient calories but lack essential nutrients. At the same time, overweight and obesity are increasing in many parts of the world.

Children are particularly vulnerable to poor nutrition. Inadequate diets during the early stages of life can affect physical growth, immune function, learning and long-term development.

This is why nutrition policies increasingly focus not only on preventing hunger but also on ensuring that people can regularly access healthy and diverse diets.

Food Prices Can Affect What Families Eat

The cost of food remains a major factor influencing dietary choices.

When nutritious foods become expensive, low-income households may be forced to prioritize cheaper products that provide calories but may contain fewer essential nutrients.

Inflation and disruptions in agricultural markets can therefore have consequences far beyond household budgets. They can influence what families eat and potentially worsen existing nutritional problems.

Improving access to healthy diets requires policies that address affordability as well as food production.

Conflict Creates Severe Food Risks

Armed conflict is another major driver of food insecurity.

Wars can displace populations, destroy agricultural land and infrastructure, interrupt trade and prevent farmers from accessing seeds, fertilizer, machinery and markets.

People forced to flee their homes may also lose livelihoods and become dependent on humanitarian assistance.

For communities already experiencing poverty, prolonged conflict can make recovery particularly difficult.

Climate Shocks Add Further Pressure

Extreme weather and environmental changes can create additional challenges for food systems.

Droughts, floods, storms and heatwaves can damage crops, reduce livestock productivity and disrupt transportation networks. Repeated shocks can be particularly damaging because farmers and households may have little time or financial capacity to recover before another crisis occurs.

Building resilient agricultural systems is therefore increasingly important for protecting food supplies and rural livelihoods.

Children Remain a Major Focus

The participation of UNICEF in SOFI 2026 reflects the importance of child nutrition within the global food-security agenda.

Children require adequate nutrition for healthy growth and development. Poor diets and nutritional deficiencies can have consequences that continue into adulthood.

Improving maternal nutrition, supporting breastfeeding where appropriate, expanding access to nutritious complementary foods and strengthening health services are among the broader approaches used to address nutritional risks during early childhood.

Agriculture Must Deliver More Than Calories

Modern food policy increasingly recognizes that agricultural systems need to provide nutritious and diverse foods, not simply large quantities of calories.

Farmers and food producers face the challenge of increasing productivity while dealing with changing environmental conditions, resource constraints and market pressures.

Investments in sustainable agriculture, storage, transportation and local food systems can help reduce losses and improve access to nutritious products.

Social Protection Can Help Vulnerable Families

Social-protection programs can play an important role when households cannot afford adequate food.

Cash transfers, school meal programs and other forms of assistance can help families manage economic shocks while protecting children’s access to food and essential services.

The effectiveness of these programs depends on reaching the people most at risk and maintaining support during periods of crisis.

A Challenge That Requires International Cooperation

No single institution can address global hunger on its own.

The involvement of FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO reflects the different dimensions of the problem. Agriculture, nutrition, health, humanitarian assistance and rural development are closely connected.

International cooperation is particularly important when food crises cross borders or when countries face simultaneous economic, environmental and humanitarian pressures.

Turning Data Into Action

One of the most important functions of SOFI is to provide governments and international organizations with evidence that can guide policy decisions.

Reliable information can help identify where food insecurity is worsening, which populations are most vulnerable and which interventions require greater investment.

Data alone, however, cannot eliminate hunger. Its value depends on whether governments, development organizations and other stakeholders use the evidence to design effective programs and direct resources where they are most needed.

The Road Ahead

The publication of SOFI 2026 comes as the international community continues to pursue the goal of ending hunger and malnutrition.

Progress will depend on addressing several challenges simultaneously: making nutritious food affordable, strengthening food systems, protecting vulnerable households, improving health and nutrition services, supporting farmers and responding effectively to conflicts and environmental shocks.

The report also reinforces an important principle: food security is inseparable from broader human development.

People cannot fully participate in education, employment or economic life when they lack reliable access to adequate nutrition. Likewise, healthier populations can contribute more effectively to resilient communities and economies.

SOFI 2026 therefore serves not simply as an annual measurement of hunger but as a reminder of the interconnected nature of food, health, poverty and development.

The global challenge remains substantial, but detailed international assessments such as SOFI provide policymakers with the evidence needed to understand where the greatest problems lie and where action can have the greatest impact.