Experts including former EU Commissioner Phil Hogan and Cornell University economist Chris Barrett point out that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) faces a funding gap due to significant cuts in US foreign aid, limiting its ability to monitor and respond to global food crises. They warn that climate shocks, conflicts, and the global fuel crisis, coupled with soaring interest rates and donor cuts, leave the world ill-equipped to foresee and respond to major food crises. Hogan, a former candidate for FAO head, stated that other member states need to fill the funding gap. Data from the World Health Organization and the UN World Food Programme show that over a quarter of the global population will face moderate or severe food insecurity in 2025, with over 266 million people facing severe hunger this year.