Sustainable Development Goals: Where the world stands on SDG 2 No Hunger

Back in 2015 the United Nations set goals with a target date of 2030. Four years from now. The Sustainable Development Goals consist of 17 global objectives to create a better future for all humans and our world. Right now, with four years to go, only 35% of the targets are on track, nearly 50% are not advancing, and 18% are actually regressing! 

SDG #2 is No Hunger

This goal calls for greater food security, better nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. The world is making some progress on SDG 2, but it is still far off track. Hunger fell slightly in 2024, yet hundreds of millions of people remain undernourished and food insecurity remains widespread.

The United States has no shortage of food, yet millions of Americans still struggle to eat well. That contradiction is the heart of the SDG 2 challenge. America’s farms are highly productive, and federal programs such as SNAP and school meals help millions, but food insecurity remains stubbornly high at 12.5% in 2024 and rose again in 2025. The issue is not whether the country can produce food; it is whether families can access nutritious food consistently.

If the US wants to take SDG 2 seriously, or rather, if the federal government in the US wants to take SDG 2 seriously (and I don’t think they do right now) it must invest in the parts of the food system that connect production to people. That means strengthening nutrition assistance, supporting climate-smart agriculture, reducing food waste, and improving local food access in underserved communities. Hunger in America is not inevitable. It is the result of policy choices, and better choices could move the country much closer to zero hunger.

What can creatives do about SDG #2? 

Enter the Protopian Prize. If SDG #2: No Hunger resonates with you, use it as a focus for a story for the Democratic Futures Category! Tell a story about what happens when wiping out hunger becomes a priority for society. What steps would we take to make this real? What does regenerative farming look like in this reality? 

Write a Better Future. One in which no one goes hungry.