Solutions to Combat Hunger: Sustainable and Social Agriculture

On the eve of October 16, World Food Day, SWISSAID warns of the persistently high levels of food insecurity. According to the United Nations, around 8.2 percent of the world's population, or 673 million people, suffered from hunger in 2024. Africa remains the most affected continent.

Chad, where SWISSAID is active, is a glaring example. The country faces numerous challenges—poverty, climate change, instability, refugees from neighbouring Sudan—and ranked 125 out of 127 in the global hunger index last year. Every tenth child there dies before reaching their fifth birthday.

A dramatic paradox: hunger has become a daily reality for many people, especially women, even though global food production would suffice to feed everyone. Hunger is a symptom of deeply rooted structural global injustices. This highlights once again the necessity to rethink agricultural systems and mechanisms of international solidarity.

The solution: sustainable and fair agriculture

"Hunger can be defeated, but it must become a priority," emphasises Markus Allemann, Director of SWISSAID. He underlines the fundamental role of farmers in global food security: "Farmers feed the world. At SWISSAID, we are convinced that social and sustainable agriculture, agroecology, is one of the keys to combating hunger. These practices not only enable healthy nutrition but also the regeneration of soils, the creation of socio- economic perspectives, and better resilience to the impacts of climate change."

Industrialised countries, including Switzerland, bear a shared responsibility for the climate crisis. They must rapidly reduce their CO2 emissions and support the countries of the South, which suffer the most from the effects of climate change. Africa, for instance, suffers from severe droughts and devastating floods every year, although it is only responsible for 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

"The fight against hunger, poverty, the climate crisis, and biodiversity loss are interconnected challenges," continues Markus Allemann. "They can only be overcome through joint action, enhanced international solidarity, and long- term political commitment." On the occasion of World Food Day, SWISSAID emphasises: "Hunger is not an inevitable fate."

Contact persons:
Markus Allemann, Managing Director, SWISSAID,
Tel: 079 833 15 69, m.allemann@swissaid.ch
Delphine Neyaga, Media Officer, SWISSAID,
Tel: 076 582 76 66, media@swissaid.ch

Note on Switzerland's most unique escape game: "Escape Hunger – Escape the Hunger Crisis!" Under time pressure, it's about solving tricky tasks around the theme of hunger and possible solutions to it.

This action is part of the Agroecological Days around World Food Day on October 16, 2025.

2025 Tour Dates

13/14.10., Basel – Rheinbord Kaserne (Food Forum Basel) 16.10., Lucerne – Mühlenplatz (Partner: Fastenaktion) 31.10./1.11., Zurich-Oerlikon – Halle 550 (HEKS)

More information: escapehunger.ch

SWISSAID
Delphine Neyaga, Media Officer
media@swissaid.ch
076/582 76 66