Ireland's UN SDGs 2019 - Report on Indicators for Goal 2 Zero Hunger

The 17 UN SDGs are a set of global development targets adopted by the United Nations (UN) member countries in September 2015 to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.  The UN SDGs are driving the global development agenda towards Agenda 2030.

The Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020 was published in direct response to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and provides a whole-of-government approach to implement the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

This Publication for 'Ireland's UN SDGs 2019 - Report on Indicators for Goal 2 Zero Hunger' has 13 SDG indicators which are divided into three main chapters: Hunger, Agriculture and Economic.

Hunger 

SDG 2.1.1 Prevalence of Undernourishment is published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).  These data are classified as Tier 2 in the Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators.  See definition below.

SDG 2.1.2 Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity in the Population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) is measured by the proportion of the population lacking one or more food items reported by the CSO Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC).  These data are classified as Tier 2 in the Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators.

There is no national definition or measure of food poverty in Ireland. Published research in a paper titled 'Constructing a Food Poverty Indicator for Ireland using the Survey on Income and Living Conditions' (Authors Carney, C and Maître, B (2012), Social Inclusion Technical Paper No. 3, Dublin and Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection) constructed a food poverty indicator using deprivation indicators from the CSO’s Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC).  The paper proposes a composite measure of food poverty based on a lack of one or more of three food deprivation items.  This methodology showed that 10% of the Irish population was in food poverty in 2010. 

The CSO recently updated the figures based on a lack of one or more food deprivation items reported in the CSO SILC Survey.  The 2018 figure of food poverty is based on a lack of one or more food deprivation items reported in the CSO SILC Survey.

Food Poverty Methodology used:
1 out of 3 item index, i.e. if a household experiences at least 1 out of the 3 following deprivation items then they are classified as being at risk of food poverty:
Unable to afford a meal with meat, chicken, fish (or vegetarian equivalent) every second day;
Unable to afford a roast (or vegetarian equivalent) once a week;
Unable to have a substantial meal on one day within the last fortnight, due to lack of money.

Revised NUTS 3 2016 – Eight Regional Authorities

Border – Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo

Midland – Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath

West – Galway, Mayo, Roscommon

Dublin – Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, South Dublin

Mid-East – Kildare, Louth, Meath, Wicklow

Mid-West – Clare, Limerick, Tipperary

South-East – Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford

South-West – Cork, Kerry

Revised NUTS2 2016 - Three regions

Northern & Western  - Border and West regions

Southern - Mid-West, South-East and South-West regions

Eastern & Midland - Dublin, Mid-East and Midland regions

SDG 2.2.1 Prevalence of Stunting (Height for age <-2 Standard Deviation from the Median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) Among Children Under 5 Years of Age is reported in the 2012 National Pre-School Nutrition Survey (NPNS), Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA).  These data are classified as Tier 2 in the Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators.

IUNA was founded in the 1990s as a formal alliance bringing together the nutrition expertise of University College Cork, University College Dublin, Ulster University and Trinity College Dublin.

SDG 2.2.2 Prevalence of Malnutrition (Weight for Height >+2 or <-2 Standard Deviation from the Median of the WHO Child Growth Standards) Among Children Under 5 Years of Age, by Type (Wasting and Overweight) was sourced from the 2012 NPNS; Growing up in Ireland (GUI) 2017 longitudinal study coordinated by the ESRI; WHO-Europe Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative and the Healthy Weight for Children (0-6 years) Framework, November 2018.  These data are classified as Tier 2 in the Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators.   

Further information on childhood obesity was also published by the National Perinatal Reporting System (NPRS) in the Perinatal Statistics Report 2015 and by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Tackling Childhood Obesity.

Agriculture

SDG 2.3.1 Volume of Production per Labour Unit by Classes of Farming/Pastoral/Forestry Enterprise Size is available from the Farm Structure Survey (FSS), CSO, Agriculture Division.  The methodology relating to SDG 2.3.1 is detailed in the Annex.  These data are classified as Tier 2 in the Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators.

SDG 2.3.2 Average Income of Small-Scale Food Producers is available from the FSS, CSO, Agriculture Division.  The methodology relating to SDG 2.3.2 is detailed in the Annex.  These data are classified as Tier 2 in the Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators.

SDG 2.4.1 Proportion of Agricultural Area Under Productive and Sustainable Agriculture was sourced from Eurostat.  This is SDG indicator SDG_02_40 under Eurostat's SDG classifications.  These data are classified as Tier 2 in the Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators.

SDG 2.5.1 Number of Plant and Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Secured in Either Medium or Long-Term Conservation Facilities; these data for plants was sourced from the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD).  The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) provided information on local breeds of animals.  These data are classified as Tier 2 in the Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators.

According to the Department of Agriculture there are currently 1,415 accessions uploaded on EURISCO database which includes plant accessions in various different Irish genebanks.  There are three cattle breeds being conserved long term in a national genebank - Kerry, Dexter are Irish Moiled.

SDG 2.5.2 Proportion of Local Breeds Classified as Being at Risk, Not-at-Risk or at Unknown Level of Risk of Extinction, was sourced from the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD).  According to the Department of  Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) 89% of our local breeds are classified as being at risk, with 11% being classified as not at risk.  These data are classified as Tier 2 in the Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators.

Economic

SDG 2.a.1 The Agriculture Orientation Index for Government Expenditure is published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, United Nations.  

This agriculture orientation index (AOI) is the agriculture share of government expenditure divided by the agriculture share of GDP.  An AOI larger than 1 means the agriculture section receives a higher share of government spending relative to its economic value.   An AOI smaller than 1 reflects a lower orientation to agriculture.

SDG 2.a.2 Total Official Flows (Official Development Assistance Plus Other Official Flows) to the Agriculture Sector was published by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Details are in their Irish Aid Annual Report 2018.

SDG 2.b.1 Agricultural Export Subsidies is the only indicator in SDG target 2.b: Correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets, including through the parallel elimination of all forms of agricultural export subsidies and all export measures with equivalent effect, in accordance with the mandate of the Doha Development Round.  These data are classified as Tier 2 in the Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators.

A report by UNCTAD (UN Conference on Trade and Development) indicates that Agricultural Export Subsidies are vanishing.  Detailed information is available in UNCTAD's report on SDG 2.b.

SDG 2.c.1 Indicator of Food Price Anomalies is sourced from the CSO, Consumer Price Index. 

At a Global level, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Food Price Index is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities. It consists of the average of five commodity group price indices, weighted with the average export shares of each of the groups for 2002-2004. For more detailed information please see the FAO Food Price Index Report.

In this publication data are classified as Tier 1 in the Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators, except where indicated.

Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators

All indicators data are classified by the IAEG-SDGs into three tiers based on their level of methodological development and the availability of data at the global level.

Tier Classification Criteria/Definitions:
Tier 1: Indicator is conceptually clear, has an internationally established methodology and standards are available, and data are regularly produced by countries for at least 50 per cent of countries and of the population in every region where the indicator is relevant.
Tier 2: Indicator is conceptually clear, has an internationally established methodology and standards are available, but data are not regularly produced by countries.
Tier 3: No internationally established methodology or standards are yet available for the indicator, but methodology/standards are being (or will be) developed or tested.