IMPACT REPORT 2023
Introduction
The latest SOFI report (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, 2024)—‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024: Financing to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms’—reveals a sobering reality: not a single one of the seven global nutrition targets is on track to be met by 2030. With only six years remaining, hunger and food insecurity show no signs of improvement.
On the contrary, previous gains in eliminating malnutrition in all its forms have been reversed. (1) The report identifies a critical shortfall in the funding necessary to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Addressing this requires, among other measures, the definition of harmonized criteria to evaluate the nature and impact of financing related to food and nutritional security.
In 2023, hunger affected 9.1% of the global population—a 1.6% increase since 2019. This translates to approximately 733 million people (152 million more than in 2019), while 28.9% of the global population lacked regular access to adequate food. Food insecurity continues to disproportionately affect women and those living in rural areas.
The “double burden of malnutrition” has intensified worldwide across all age groups. Malnutrition is now responsible for half of all deaths among children under five (2), while obesity—a pathological condition that significantly increases the risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)—is rising sharply among adults. Obesity-related complications currently account for 41 million deaths annually, representing 74% of all global mortality. (3-5)
Furthermore, ongoing conflicts in various regions are exacerbating food security risks. The crisis is most acute in the Gaza Strip, where the population remains exposed to famine, as reported by the World Bank. (5,6)
The FAO, the World Bank, and other international bodies have identified key drivers for overcoming these crises and improving nutritional security while promoting sustainable agri-food systems. These include agroecology, the optimization of livestock supply chains, the development of innovative alternative proteins, the circular economy, food waste reduction, and technological innovation (7,8,10-16). These themes sit at the heart of WIISE Benefit S.r.l.’s research and advocacy.
WIISE Social Report 2023
WIISE remains committed to developing sustainable agri-food systems that ensure the global availability of safe, nutritious food, in alignment with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (9)
We aim to contribute to these goals through research and innovation, stakeholder engagement, and the promotion of health, well-being, and environmental protection.
Independent Information
WIISE Benefit provides independent information through its dedicated web platforms:
These sites are open-access and free from advertising banners or pop-ups. This reflects our commitment to information free from external interference, offering high-quality editorial content on topics including:
- Agri-food R&D and novel foods.
- Sustainable development in agriculture, livestock, processing, and distribution.
- Biodiversity, ecosystems, animal welfare, and “One Health” initiatives.
- Nutrition, scientific research, and nutritional labeling.
- Consumer market initiatives and investigations.
- Food safety, official controls, and food fraud.
- Consumer information, labeling, and advertising standards.
- Food contact materials (MOCA).
- Agro-industrial policies and supply chain integrity (#VanghePulite).
Research and Innovation Projects
WIISE participates in various research projects under the PRIMA, Horizon, and Horizon Europe frameworks. We provide strategic support, stakeholder building, regulatory analysis, policy briefs, technical-legal consultancy, and the development of operational guidelines, training, data management, blockchain technology, and communication.
Key projects active in 2023 include:
- EcoeFISHent (Horizon Europe): Focused on optimizing the circular economy within the fish supply chain by upcycling processing sludge and side-streams into ingredients for food, feed, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. WIISE contributes to developing best practices, regulatory and environmental analysis, and proposals to reform EU animal by-product regulations to facilitate safe upcycling.
- Wasteless (Horizon Europe): A research project dedicated to monitoring and reducing food loss and waste. WIISE is developing an “Open Innovation” blockchain system for measurement, integrated with a digital toolbox to share best practices for side-stream and waste valorization.
Training, Education, and Awareness
The WIISE team conducts training across academic, professional, and regulatory contexts, working with national and international official control authorities.
We have strengthened synergies across the agri-food sector, notably through a food law lectureship at the University of Naples Federico II (Department of Veterinary Medicine).
In 2023, we expanded our internship program with the addition of two key figures: Alessandra Mei (Law graduate with a Master’s in Agri-food Law) and Gabriele Sapienza (Agricultural Science and Technology graduate, currently specializing in Environmental Safeguards and Circular Economy).
Consultancy
The FARE (Food and Agriculture Requirements) division of WIISE Benefit S.r.l. continues to provide technical-legal, regulatory, and institutional relations consultancy. We support a wide range of international operators, trade associations, and consumer groups within the food, supplement, chemical, and FMCG sectors.
Égalité Non-Profit: Social Action
Égalité, the non-profit association founded by the WIISE team, continues to receive our full support across several fronts:
- Research and Editorial Activity: Public awareness and lobbying to support the rights of vulnerable populations at the national and EU levels.
- Industrial Innovation: Finalizing a non-profit industrial project to build an “intelligent wheelchair” in collaboration with industry leaders (Mecaprom/Regis Group) and Scarponi Motors.
- Accessibility Certification: Developing a system to certify the accessibility of both public and private spaces and services.
- Pro-bono Legal Support: Direct volunteer work to protect the rights of fragile individuals and people with disabilities.
Future Perspectives
In 2024–2025, WIISE Benefit S.r.l. will continue its research and development mission, offering a humble contribution toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.
We will maintain our daily commitment to free public dissemination on agri-food supply chains, sustainability, and corporate responsibility (ESG, CSR, due diligence), as well as nutrition, health, and animal welfare.
Dario Dongo
Director
WIISE Benefit Srl
Note
- FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. 2024. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 – Financing to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms. Rome, https://doi.org/10.4060/cd1254en
- Phelps, Nowell H et al. 2024. “Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults.” The Lancet, Volume 403, Issue 10431, 1027–1050, DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02750-2
- WHO. Obesity and overweight. World Health Organization.
- Dario Dongo. “New WHO guidelines on fiscal policies for a healthy diet.” GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 16.06.24
- WHO. World Obesity Day 2022 – Accelerating action to stop obesity.
- World Bank Organization. Food Security Update: Food Security in Gaza.
- Dario Dongo, Camilla Fincardi. “Agroecology, SDGs, salvation: The FAO ten commandments.” GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 12.04.20
- Dario Dongo, Alessandra Mei. “Agroecology-Transect: European research to promote large-scale agroecology.” GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 18.09.23
- Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. “Insects and frass: circular economy in agri-food systems.” GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 07.08.23
- Dario Dongo, Marina De Nobili. “Animal husbandry: FAO proposes 5 intervention areas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 29.08.20
- Dario Dongo, Alessandra Mei. “Automation in agriculture: The FAO 2022 report.” GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 16.11.22
- Jacopo Ferlito. “NIR technology in the food sector.” GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 02.08.24
- Dario Dongo. “Alt Fish: 3D-printed mycoprotein in the shape of salmon.” GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 25.09.23
- Dario Dongo. “SDGs: The necessary transformations for the food supply chain.” GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 19.09.19
- Dario Dongo. “The role of microalgae in food and feed: The state of the art. #ProFutureEU.” GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 15.09.23
- Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. “Horizon4Proteins: Protein research compared with EU policies and rules.” GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 21.05.23
