Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, stated that Nigeria currently has the second-highest rate of food insecurity globally. He attributed this to the disappearance of arable land due to climate change, leading to skyrocketing food prices.
In an interview with Lara Adejoro, Gates explained, “Nigeria now faces the second highest rate of food insecurity worldwide, with climate change intensifying the issue. Arable land has vanished, pests have decimated crops, and staple food prices have soared.”
He further highlighted that climate-related losses on African farms are more than double the global average, disproportionately affecting the poorest farmers who are already struggling with droughts, pests, and diseases, worsening food shortages and driving up prices.
Gates warned that by 2050, climate change could lead to nearly 40 million more children suffering from stunting, adding to the 400 million children already lacking sufficient nutrients.
Gates mentioned that his foundation is collaborating with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation to gain a better understanding of the climate-induced hunger crisis. However, he noted a silver lining, saying, “The pace of innovation is accelerating just as quickly as climate change. Our vision is an agricultural transformation led by smallholder farmers equipped with the knowledge, tools, and technologies to enhance their livelihoods.”
