Hunger is not a figure; it is millions of children and families just trying to have even one good meal a day. With 2030 mere months away, the globe is at a turning point on hunger and food security. Though improvements are being made, the UN advises that almost 600 million people may still be undernourished by 2030 putting SDG 2 in immediate danger if we do not revamp international food systems, prioritize small-scale farmers, and invest in agro-resilience.
This article dives deep into exploring nine countries journey that have either substantially ended hunger or are aggressively pursuing SDG 2 goals through robust national policies.
Thailand implemented two major approaches:
The National Food and Nutrition Plan [NFNP] which was implemented to improve nutrition levels, reduce food insecurity and promote sustainable agriculture. The plan was designed especially for children, mothers and rural communities. In schools, children were provided lunch and milk, as well as awareness campaigns regarding healthy diets, cooking practices and food diversity were done. Promotion of organic and chemical-free farming was undertaken to support small farmers.
The Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) is a Thai development model which is promoting moderation, self-reliance and sustainability especially in agriculture to enhance resilience and reduce poverty.
- Thailand’s National Food and Nutrition Plan helped cut child stunting to under 10%.
- Reached over 11 million kids with school meals.
- Boosted rural food security by 30% between 2015 and 2025.
- SEP empowered over 20,000 Thai villages.
- Reduction of food insecurity by 25% and increased small farmers’ incomes by 30%.
- School-based nutrition with lunch and milk provision.
- Awareness campaigns on healthy diets, food diversity and cooking practices.
- Promotion of organic and chemical-free farming to aid small farmers.
- SEP focused on moderation, sustainability, and local self-reliance in agriculture.
Thailand faced multiple challenges during this process such as struggling small farmers and climate shocks in villages and obesity in fast-growing cities which had created a paradox for the country. Thailand’s approach to SDG 2 highlighted that combining school nutrition programs, sustainable community farming and grassroots health efforts can create lasting food security offering other countries a powerful model which balances nutrition, resilience and local empowerment.
Through the National School Feeding Program and the National Program for Strengthening Family Farming, Brazil gave priority to smallholder farmer support and food security in schools. Students in preschool to high school can get free, wholesome food through PNAE, a government-funded program that serves all Brazilian public schools.
Moreover, the National Program for Strengthening Family Farming (PRONAF) aimed at providing low-interest rate credit to marginal and small farmers helping them to use organic, modern and sustainable farming practices in their farms. Under this scheme, a special line of credit was introduced for women, youth, and traditional farmers.
- PRONAF credit increased small farm production by 6–20% in the poorest regions of the country.
- PNAE provided nutritious and healthy meals to over 40 million students.
- PNAE guaranteed a stable income to small farmers, strengthened market access by removing middlemen, and raised farmer income by 20–30%.
- 30% of food procured from local smallholder farmers under PNAE.
- Guaranteed school meal coverage for all public school students.
- PRONAF provided low-interest credit access to promote sustainable and organic farming.
- Special credit lines in PRONAF targeted women, youth, and traditional farmers.
The nation confronted challenges in terms of regional disparities, political instability and rising food prices. Social and agricultural policy and programme integration had consolidated the country’s sustainable and organic food growth and enabled Brazil to attain Zero Hunger and SDG 2 effectively.
In order to combat hunger and undernourishment while boosting agricultural productivity, Vietnam has adopted a series of transformative strategies. For instance, the Doi Moi Agricultural Reforms were revolutionary reforms in the agricultural sector where the economy shifted from centrally planned to a market-oriented model. Collective land holdings of the farmers shifted to household and individual farming which boosted productivity and increased self-reliance.
Introduction of the New Rural Development Program to modernise farming practices in rural areas by building roads as well as a proper irrigation system especially in drought-prone areas. It also encouraged cooperatives and rural entrepreneurship.
Moreover, School Health and Nutrition Programs were also introduced to provide healthy and nutritious meals in schools which are helping to improve attendance, growth, and cognitive development and were also supported by UNICEF as well as by the World Food Programme (WFP).
- Undernourishment dropped to 6% in 2022.
- The child stunting rate declined from 42% in 2000 to 19% in 2022.
- Vietnam became a global rice exporter.
- Shifts from collective to individual land ownership
- Emphasises on irrigation and rural infrastructure in drought-prone areas.
- Supports for cooperatives and rural entrepreneurship.
- School meal programs backed by UNICEF and WFP to support health and learning outcomes.
In the initial period, Vietnam has seen a very high hunger and undernourishment rate in the initial period along with climate threats say salinization and drought in rice-producing regions (e.g., Mekong Delta) threatened long-term progress. Moreover, the Asian Financial Crisis seriously harmed the development of Vietnam during the early 2000s.
Inclusive and comprehensive policies of Vietnam resulted in overall development of the economy, which benefited the nation to achieve SDG 2. However, there is a need to maintain a balance between free markets and state intervention in the economy.
India had undertaken a multi-dimensional policy framework to achieve zero hunger aim by adopting three key initiatives say the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) which is offering direct income support to small and marginal farmers, the Public Distribution System (PDS) which ensures access to subsidized food grains to vulnerable section of the society and the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) that aims at promoting climate resilient and resource efficient farming practices in order to secure long term food production.
- Farmers income increased by 15-25%
- Malnutrition declined from 38.4% (2015–16) to 35.5% (2019–21)
- Advancement in sustainable agricultural practices
- Digitalisation by linking ration cards and adhaar cards for benefits distribution promoted transparency.
- Strengthening of agricultural sustainability through integrated farming, soil health management and climate adaptation
India brought together income support, food subsidies and sustainable agriculture practices to end hunger and malnutrition at scale however the inclusion of tenant and landless farmers, minimizing operational delays, and enhancing inter-scheme coordination need to be addressed as it hindering the progress.
Ethiopia undertook a comprehensive approach that is integrating food security, rural employment and nutritional improvement by launching Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) in 2005 that aims at addressing chronic food insecurity through food or cash transfers often tied to public works while Agricultural Growth Program (AGP) is promoting smallholder productivity through access to inputs, irrigation and value chain support and National Nutrition Program (NNP) is focusing on maternal and child nutrition through integrated efforts across agriculture, health, and education.
Outcomes
- Child stunting dropped from 58% in 2000 to 37% by 2020
- Reduced reliance on emergency food aid
- Links income support with public work services
- Supports access to inputs, irrigation, and market linkages to smallholder farmers
Ethiopia’s experience underscores the promise of integrating targeted safety nets, smallholder agricultural support and linked nutrition programs to propel continued food security progress. Yet, repeated climate shocks, regional conflict, and endemic child malnutrition are persistent challenges.
Mauritius integrated social and agricultural policy and sustainability to achieve the goal of SDG 2. Mauritius created a Food Security Fund (FSF) under which financial support was provided to farmers to boost local production and reduce import dependency. They also introduced smart agricultural initiatives and policies under which smart and modern farming techniques like hydroponics, aquaponics, rooftop gardening was done. This helped them grow their food production within the limited arable land available. They also provide free meals to school students which encourages healthy eating habits among children and also reduces inequality of child nutrition.
- Undernourishment levels are consistently below 6%
- Self-reliance and efficiency in the production of food especially in leafy vegetables and fruits
- Free school meal program improved attendance, child health and reduced food insecurity among children
- Financial support through the Food Security Fund
- Sheltered farming and hydroponics scheme via FAREI
- Budget-driven agri-infrastructure and input subsidies
Mauritius despite being a small island nation, was able to achieve SDG 2 with a high rate of success by promoting modernized and latest farming techniques, ensuring child nutrition and security, and creating important and crucial infrastructure development for the farmers.
Ghana
Ghana introduced Planting for Food and Jobs [PFJ] which aimed at increasing domestic food production of the country, reducing imports and create jobs by agricultural transformation and development. Under this scheme, farmers were provided seeds at subsidised rates, fertilizers and extension services. It is done by public-private partnerships and district-level implementation. It has also introduced a National Nutrition Policy which addresses malnutrition (especially stunting and anemia) by mainstreaming nutrition into all sectors — health, agriculture, education, and WASH and Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) was implemented to improve and enhance child nutrition, improve attendance in schools and encourage local agricultural economies.
Outcomes
- Maize and rice production increased over 70%
- Decline in child stunting and wasting
- Undernourishment dropped from 7.7% in 2015 to 4.9% in 2021
Key Features
- Reducing climate risks and creating employment through PFJ
- Reduction in Undernourishment and food insecurity
- Providing nutrition enriched and healthy diet to students
Takeaway
Ghana’s experience has highlighted that a people centered and integrated approach such as linking agriculture, nutrition, education and local economies are key drivers to build a sustainable and hunger-free future.
China
China integrated food security and nutrition goals into its broader rural development and poverty-alleviation agendas. The government’s annual “No. 1” Central Documents and Five-Year Plans emphasize agriculture, rural revitalization and food self-sufficiency. China has also expanded nutrition programs, such as the Rural Student Nutrition Improvement Program which is providing free school meals to children aged 7–15 in poor areas along with social safety nets and rural infrastructure development.
Outcomes
- Grain output surpassed 700 million tonnes in 2024
- China’s undernourished population share is very low at 2.5%
- Child stunting is at around 8.1% nationally
Key Features
- National rural nutrition program providing free lunches in poor counties.
- Government heavily invests in R&D and technology transfer.
Takeaway
Decades of policy continuity by China through the power of an integrated, government-led strategy combining agricultural production support, poverty reduction and nutrition programs have enabled China to nearly eliminate hunger and make poverty irrelevant to SDG2.
Mexico
The government rolled out programmes such as Fertilizers for Bienestar and Producción para el Bienestar to increase domestic food production and improve nutrition. The government also ensured floor prices for staple crops and milk. Segalmex which is a public food agency was set up to centralize procurement, supply subsidies and price supports as well as to distribute basic food baskets in poor areas. The school breakfast program along with subsidies on milk were key steps taken by Mexico.
Outcomes
- People suffering hunger had fallen to under 5%
- Farm productivity increased
Key Features
- Delivering free inputs to farmers
- Setting up floor prices for corn, beans, wheat, rice and milk
- The government heavily invests in R&D and technology transfer.
Takeaway
Mexico adopted a multi-pronged strategy that focused on blending supply- and demand-side measures by giving direct agricultural subsidies and price supports which can quickly boost food production as well as the farmer’s incomes while social programs like school meals and cash transfers improve nutrition access. However, challenges such poverty and food insecurity remain significant in rural and indigenous regions. Moreover, nutrition landscape is complicated by concurrent undernutrition and an obesity epidemic
Conclusion
Achieving SDG 2 zero hunger is not the result of a single formula instead policies formulated through integrated and focused action. Each country went down its own path to tackle the situation and setting up an example. Every strategy represents a unique way of addressing hunger, driven by the domestic needs and capabilities. Some nations used digital governance or transfers while others-built community resilience, nutrition education, and agricultural innovation. All aimed to safeguard livelihoods, enhance health, and nurture generations to come.
The takeaway is simple: policies well aligned to bring together nutrition, agriculture, and social protection, paying attention to equity, sustainability, and local ownership, have the best chance of stopping all forms of hunger. As climate stress, economic inequality, and displacement test food systems across the world, these glimpses provide important lessons on what succeeds, what remains to be repaired and how nations can get closer to a world with no hunger.
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