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Vilsack calls attention to rising worldwide hunger crisis

The CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation says a growing hunger crisis continues to threaten millions of people around the world.

Tom Vilsack, who’s also a former governor of Iowa and former U.S. Ag Secretary, says there are 733 million people globally who are food insecure.

“These are people who live in areas perhaps because they are not as fortunate as we are here in Iowa to able to grow enough food to take care of themselves. They may be in an area of serious conflict. We’re seeing a rising number of food insecure people in places of war, conflict, and turmoil.”

He tells Brownfield the number of people in need of food is higher than it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We really haven’t recovered yet, if you will, from the impact of that pandemic.”

Vilsack says everyone could help contribute.

“We can volunteer our time at a food bank. We can contribute to a meal packing effort here at the World Food Prize. And we can look for other ways to make a difference in terms of our local area and our global responsibilities.”

Vilsack notes that statistics show approximately 60 million children in the world under the age of 5 aren’t receiving sufficient nutrition.

Tom Vilsack: