The fact that an inexpensive and readily treatable condition that affects 868 million people, kills 2·3 million children per year, and was targeted as a Millennium Development Goal, should remain uncontrolled year after year is as shocking as it is shameful. Moreover, that hunger still has such a grip on 14% of the world's population—despite enough food being produced to feed everyone—is an indictment of failed policies at many levels, according to Enough food for everyone IF , a report by a collaboration of more than 100 charities and religious groups, launched on Jan 23.

The report, directed at Prime Minister David Cameron and the UK Government as they prepare to host the G8 Summit in June, provides a list of “ifs” that, if addressed, would decrease hunger. For example, if farmers were not displaced by land grabs to grow export crops, including biofuels, but instead received assistance, they could feed their communities. If international corporations did not channel more than half the world's trade through tax havens, but instead paid local taxes, then 230 deaths in children due to starvation could be prevented each day by the extra revenue. But how the wish list of “ifs” can be translated into actions that the G8 might adopt, when so few countries have met the target of giving 0·7% of GDP to aid, is unclear and uncertain.

Widespread hunger is the consequence of several factors, influenced by different people, government agencies, and corporations with separate interests. Action towards food security therefore involves many levers, as reflected by the breadth of organisations supporting the Enough food for everyone IF campaign. Encouragingly, the social and economic benefits of alleviating hunger are substantial, as shown in China. What is needed from the UK Government is a vision for the G8 that makes universal access to food an obligation by replacing “ifs” with will. There is simply no more urgent agenda for world leaders in 2013 than the alleviation of hunger. Enough is enough.

Copyright © 2013 Bruce Brander/Science Photo Library