„A life in dignity is so much more than just not having to go hungry.“

Madame Bodo, Madagascar

Even those who take in enough calories are often far from having the right to adequate nutrition.

People living in poverty in particular are forced to eat an inadequate and unhealthy diet. The consequences are physical suffering, but also the inability to participate fully in social and economic life.

Children who are denied access to a healthy diet often suffer from the consequences of delayed physical and mental development for the rest of their lives.

But even in adults, malnutrition contributes massively to illness and premature death.

In 2017 alone, it is estimated that 11 million people worldwide died as a result of an unhealthy diet.

Food does not reach the people needing it the most

People around the world are working to solve this problem. And it's not just about producing more healthy food. But the food is not getting to where it is needed. In addition to conflicts and disasters, extreme poverty prevents many people from having enough and healthy food. 

Even where people can buy good food, it is difficult for them to choose healthy options. Nutrient-poor but energy-rich products are omnipresent, convenient and marketed with huge advertising budgets. Products such as fresh fruit and vegetables are often relatively more expensive and the markets are difficult to reach. In addition to helping to improve production and access to healthy food, educational work and campaigning for better laws are therefore crucial for many of our partners to ensure that good food is available to everyone.

Climate and biodiversity crisis threaten food security

The climate and biodiversity crisis is already jeopardising our ability to feed ourselves healthily. Droughts and heavy rainfall are harming plants and animals. At the same time, the production, processing and marketing of food is contributing massively to the destruction of our livelihoods. This does not have to be the case. Together with food producers and consumers, our partners develop and disseminate suitable solutions to jointly meet the needs of people and realise the protection of livelihoods.

Health risks due to pesticide use

One example of this work is dealing with the use of toxic pesticides. These are not only harmful to the environment, but also to the health of the people who are often exposed to them without protection. People in economically poorer countries are particularly affected. Many steps must be taken together to solve this problem. These include promoting effective alternatives, informing about the risks of chemicals and campaigning for better laws. The work in the global South and North goes hand in hand, as many of the pesticides come from Germany and the food produced with them is imported to us.

Our areas of work

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A woman smiling directly into the camera.
Petition: Agriculture needs fairness

Too many of the people who produce our food cannot make a living from it themselves. Let's stand up together for fair trade!

In Kenya, climate change is omnipresent and people are no longer able to provide themselves with food.
The challenge of hunger

Although enough food is produced worldwide, hunger and malnutrition are still part of the lives of millions of people. But hunger is not the result of an unchangeable fate, there are ways and means of combating it.

World food poverty gap
Food poverty worldwide

Healthy nutrition is no luxury, but a human right. A human right that is violated millions of times every day: because people are too poor to eat healthily.

Product range on the market
Promoting sustainable agriculture

Sustainable agriculture and biodiversity play a crucial role in nutrition. They preserve the environment and are a basis for healthy nutrition. They also create fair conditions between agriculture, processing, trade and consumers.

Man sprays pesticides in rice field
Pesticides

Highly hazardous pesticides that are banned in the EU continue to be used in other countries around the world. Some of these pesticides are produced in Germany and then exported. As part of a global movement, we are campaigning for putting and end to these double standards.

Hidden costs in food cultivation
The true costs of our food

The true costs of our food are not currently included in its price. This is because the cultivation of food often causes hidden costs for social and ecological damage. We are calling for a reform of the current corporate accounting in the agricultural and food sector.

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