A/RES/70/223 Agriculture development, food security and nutrition persons, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, as well as of those living in vulnerable situations, Remaining deeply concerned that, according to the most recent estimates of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, about 793 million people, or one in nine people in the world, suffer from chronic hunger and that 98 per cent of all hungry people live in developing countries, noting with concern that this number remains particularly high, and noting also that stunting is an important challenge to be addressed by Member States, Remaining deeply concerned also about the continuing food insecurity and malnutrition being faced by millions of people, in particular in sub -Saharan Africa, Reiterating the urgent need for action to address the adverse effects of climate change on food security, as well as the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition, Reiterating also the importance, inter alia, of empowering rural women, youth and smallholder and family farmers as critical agents for enhancing agricultural and rural development and food security and improving nutrition outcomes, Welcoming the implementation of the International Year of Soils, 2015, and World Soil Day, 5 December, to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions, and looking forward to the implementation of the International Year of P ulses, 2016, to increase awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production aimed towards food security and nutrition, Welcoming also the holding of Expo Milan 2015, the theme of which was “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, and the efforts of participants to draw the attention of the general public to the importance of global food security and nutrition, Taking note with appreciation of the publication entitled Achieving Zero Hunger: the Critical Role of Investments in Social Protection and Agriculture , issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agriculture Development and the World Food Programme in July 2015, and the publication entitled The State of Food and Agriculture 2015: Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty, issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and noting that the theme of World Food Day 2015 is “Social protection and agriculture: breaking the cycle of rural poverty”, Recognizing the need to increase public and private investment in the agriculture sector, inter alia, to fight hunger and malnutrition and to promote rural and urban sustainable development, Taking note of the reports of the High-level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security on water for food security and nutrition, food losses and waste in the context of sustainable food systems and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for food security and nutrition, Recalling the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and its guiding principles, 21 and recalling also its promotion of regular disaster preparedness, _______________ 21 4/9 Resolution 69/283, annex II.