We exist in a world where there is more than enough food to feed the global population. And yet, hundreds of millions of people live with the scary, daily reality of hunger.
Worse, hunger needs have risen significantly in recent years, while the same cannot be said for global aid. Governments around the world are cutting their international development assistance budgets to focus on domestic concerns and military spending.
The United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says global funding for humanitarian response fell by a third in 2025, leaving only 11 per cent of the required resources covered.
Canada is no exception. Official development assistance makes up a mere two per cent of the federal budget, and yet Global Affairs Canada has come under pressure to reduce spending.
The effects of aid shortages are devastating.
Last year, extreme hunger spread at a pace not seen in decades. Gaza crossed into famine, following Sudan, where famine started in 2024 and grew in 2025.
These are not isolated tragedies, but a reflection of the staggering need that exists in multiple regions around the world, from Haiti to Yemen.
This need has been rising for years. In under a decade, the number of acutely food insecure people nearly tripled, from over 100 million people in 2016 to nearly 300 million people in 2024, according to the Global Report on Food Crises. The figures for 2025 and 2026 are almost certain to be worse given recent aid cuts.
In this context, the humanitarian aid sector is truly overstretched. Yet we also continue to act with hope.
Last year, Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s 15 Canadian member agencies and their local partners provided nearly $75 million in aid to nearly 1.2 million individuals in 37 countries. Through their efforts, life-sustaining support reached tens of millions of children in the form of meals, safe drinking water and essential medical care. Early‑warning systems, resilient farming techniques and targeted nutrition programs strengthened families in hunger‑affected areas.
This work was possible thanks in part to the generosity of Canadians and the federal government. Even in a year when Canadian farmers in some regions faced incredible drought challenges, they still chose to give.
“Despite the fact that our yields are down, and we’re having struggles with our crops, we’re not going to go hungry — unlike people in the developing world where, if their crops fail, they’re without food,” said a Foodgrains Bank supporter who farms in Niagara, Ont.
Ending global hunger is not a technical or financial challenge; it is a moral one. In fact, the UN estimates that achieving zero hunger would cost less than one per cent of global military spending.
That is a choice we have the power to make — but will we?
In 2026, like every other year, there is a need for people who are willing to show up. So we don’t give up, and we don’t stop showing up. We choose perseverance, no matter the challenges we face — because we know the infinite value of every person that finds freedom from hunger.
