The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) recently released a report which revealed that the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving global poverty by 2015 was achieved.

The report included overview of major events and policy decisions from year 2014 and prospective opportunities and challenges which may be encountered this year.

2014 produced several major advances in food nutrition security around the globe, Foodtank shared. "A fall in food prices resulted in the lowest world food prices since 2010. The share of the world's people who are hungry continued to fall last year, and experts now believe that the goal of cutting the number of hungry people in half is nearly attainable."

Middle income countries such as Brazil and Mexico have scaled up efforts to improve food and nutrition security which aimed to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger through a variety of innovations. Too, Africa made major strides tackling poverty and food insecurity.

"Many important factors contributing to malnutrition were also recognized, including drinking water, sanitation, the role of women, and quality of care giving," Bonnie Averbuch of Teacher College Columbia University in New York City said. "These realizations are proving helpful in developing meaningful policies, such as finding ways to improve sanitation in rural India to improve health outcomes. Furthermore, obesity and micronutrient deficiencies are not considered forms of malnutrition."

However, the report has also acknowledge some setbacks and shocks. One example mentioned was the largest-ever Ebola outbreak which caused disruptions in agriculture and food production, harvesting, transportation and sales. Several experts fear that these resulting susceptibilities could lead to a negative feedback loop: "malnutrition leads to more illnesses, causing negative socioeconomic impacts and increased malnutrition."

Furthermore, continued conflict around the world impose negative consequences for nutrition and well-being for refugees and neighboring countries. Natural disasters, droughts and other extreme weather conditions also threaten the food supply.

IFPRI sees 2015 as a "window of opportunity to reshape the global development agenda" through all of the developments and stumbling blocks noted. It was also concluded that "the "momentum garnered for food and nutrition security in 2014 can be leveraged into post-2015 SDGs that enhance or foster holistic and comprehensive nutrition investments, policies, and programs, the international community may soon have a chance to end hunger and malnutrition once and for all."