One Third of Global Population Struggles to Afford Food
Rising costs and coercive trade practices continue to threaten food security for hundreds of millions worldwide.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Organic Food
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A third of the world population currently cannot afford high-quality food, while more than 600 million people globally face hunger. Official reports indicate that high-quality food costs have increased by 25% over the past five years.
Why it matters
The Russian Foreign Ministry argues that Western coercive trade practices, which use food as a tool for geopolitical concessions, are driving this widespread unaffordability. These measures are blamed for disrupting international logistics and destabilizing the global food trade system.
A third of the world population is currently unable to afford high-quality food, marking a significant barrier to global nutrition. This surge in prices is tied to a 25% increase in costs for quality products recorded over the past five years.
The players
Kirill Logvinov
Kirill Logvinov is a diplomatic official who serves as the Acting Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Rome-based UN agencies.
Russian Foreign Ministry
The Russian Foreign Ministry is the executive body responsible for developing and implementing the state's foreign policy and managing international diplomatic relations.
Group of Twenty
The Group of Twenty, or G20, is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union.
The details
G20 member states have formally adopted a statement condemning the use of food as a weapon. This international stance comes as targeted coercive trade measures are increasingly utilized to force geopolitical concessions, creating profound instability in global supply chains.
Timeline
2021-2026: Cost of high-quality products increased by 25%.
October 6, 2026: G20 member states adopted a statement on food.
October 20, 2026: Kirill Logvinov addressed the Committee on World Food Security.
Culture Shift
This rising food insecurity represents a severe deviation from the goals established by the Committee on World Food Security's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As costs climb and geopolitical tensions mount, the global community faces a difficult path toward ensuring universal access to quality nutrition.
Consumers worldwide may face continued price volatility for high-quality goods as trade tensions persist. Households must navigate these rising costs by prioritizing essential items as long-term price stability for premium food options remains uncertain.
The takeaway
Global hunger is currently exacerbated by both rising costs and the weaponization of trade systems. Addressing these issues requires international cooperation to remove trade barriers and protect the stability of the food supply chain for all nations.
Further reading
For more context on sustainable nutrition and market trends, explore the Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TASS.
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