PURPOSE: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) designated 16 October as World Food Day in 1979. The aim of the day is to promote global awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger, and to highlight the need to ensure healthy diets for all. As the world population continues to grow, much more effort and innovation will be urgently needed in order to sustainably increase agricultural production, improve the global supply chain, decrease food losses and waste, and ensure that all who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition have access to nutritious food. Many in the international community believe that it is possible to eradicate hunger within the next generation, and are working together to achieve this goal.
FORUM: ”Right to Foods for a better life and a better future, Leave no one behind.” World Food Day 2024. The world’s farmers produce enough food to feed more than the global population yet, hunger persists. Around 733 million people are facing hunger in the world due to repeated weather shocks, conflicts, economic downturns, inequality, and the pandemic. This impacts the poor and vulnerable most severely, many of whom are agricultural households, reflecting widening inequalities across and within countries. Food is the third most basic human need after air and water – everyone should have the right to adequate food. Human rights such as the right to food, life and liberty, work and education are recognised by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and two legally binding international covenants. Over 2.8 billion people in the world are unable to afford a healthy diet. Unhealthy diets are the leading cause of all forms of malnutrition – undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and obesity, which now exist in most countries, cutting across socio-economic classes. Yet today, too many people suffer from hunger and are unable to afford healthy diets. More vulnerable people are often forced to rely on staple foods or less expensive foods that can be unhealthy, while others suffer from the unavailability of fresh or varied foods, lack the information they need to choose a healthy diet, or simply opt for convenience. ‘Foods’ stands for diversity, nutrition, affordability, accessibility and safety. A greater diversity of nutritious foods should be available in our fields, fishing nets, markets, and on our tables, for the benefit of all. Hunger and malnutrition are further exacerbated by protracted or prolonged crises that are driven by a combination of conflict, extreme weather events and economic shocks. Agrifood systems, as a whole, are vulnerable to disasters and crises, particularly the impacts of climate change but at the same time, they are generating pollution, degrading soil, water and air, and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss. By transforming agrifood systems, there is great potential to mitigate climate change and support peaceful, resilient and inclusive livelihoods for all. It’s time to work together and create a better, more sustainable future for all.Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #Righttofood, #WorldFoodDay, #16october, #Leavenoonebehind, #FutureofFood.
EVENTS: EVENT: On October 16th; The FAO will hold a high-level event at FAO Headquarters in Rome. to celebrate the World Food Day 2024 under the theme ”Right to Foods for a better life and a better future, Leave no one behind.” The celebration will shine a spotlight on food as a human right. The campaign aims to raise awareness worldwide about the need for everyone to have access to a variety of nutritious, affordable, safe, and sustainable foods. The Heads of the Rome-based United Nations agencies and other special guests will speak at the ceremony on this year theme, which will feature special messages from Pope Francis and the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as well as the presentation of FAO awards.
On October 14th; The World Food Day 2024 Ceremony and Achievement Award will start at 10:00 AM Rome time; The World Food Forum grand opening will start at 14:00 PM Rome time. A dynamic launch event, uniting global leaders, innovators and activists, marks the beginning of the 2024 World Food Forum under the theme 'Good food for all, for today and tomorrow'. By fostering innovation, partnerships, increased investments in agrifood systems, science-backed evidence, and above all inclusiveness – with youth, women, Indigenous Peoples and farmers leading the way. In 2024, the WFF is mobilizing people of all ages from around the world through a range of events, innovations, targeted agrifood investments and climate finance, and solutions designed to spark holistic, strategic and at-scale sustainable agrifood systems transformation. By forging new paths of action and multi-sector/multi-agent partnerships for agrifood impact at the local, regional and global levels, the WFF aims to achieve a more sustainable, resilient, inclusive and hunger-free food future for all. Good food for all, for today and tomorrow' means better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind. Join us and take action for agrifood systems transformation and for our shared future. the WFF is committed to transforming our agrifood systems for the benefit of all. Join us for inspiring speeches and performances as we ignite a movement to transform agrifood systems and accelerate climate action. A brighter future starts here. The Concert and Global Youth Forum opening will be held at 18:00 PM Rome time to celebrate the power of music as a catalyst for change while we kickstart the WFF Global Youth Forum with the WFF's annual concert featuring young upcoming artists from around the globe. Register to participate and watch the livestream!
Worldwide celebrations: Save the date and stay tuned for more details. Get ready for this year’s World Food Day global events!
The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific will host an event in Bangkok, Thailand to mark World Food Day under the global theme of “Right to foods for a better life and a better future, leaving no one behind.” Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, who is FAO’s Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Asia and the Pacific, will preside over the event, which will be opened by Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative. The event will take place on 7 October, a few days prior to the global observance of World Food Day on 16 October. The World Food Day this year talks about “the Right to Foods” to underscore how everyone, everywhere, should have access to a variety of diverse and nutritious foods that are affordable and safe. A greater diversity of nutritious foods should be grown in our fields, made available in our markets and on our tables, for the benefit of all. The Asia-Pacific Regional World Food Day event will draw attention to the right to foods, discussing the issues of achieving food and nutrition security in the world’s most populous region, while sustainably managing natural resources and the impacts of climate change. It will also highlight the voices of youth from Asia and the Pacific, recognizing four young innovators who are mobilizing communities, and harnessing technology and digital solutions towards an agrifood systems transformation. The Keynote speaker will be addressed by Mr Luke Tay - Singapore Futures Fellow Lee Kuan Yew of the School of Public Policy. Learn more about the event!
STATEMENTS: Read the Statement from the United Nations Secretary-General on World Food Day 2024 and the Statement from the FAO Director-General on World Food Day 2024.
PODCASTS: Everyone should have the right to adequate food. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. “Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum.” provides an update on global progress towards the targets of ending hunger (SDG Target 2.1) and an update on all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2) and estimates on the number of people who are unable to afford a healthy diet. New evidence shows that food purchases in some countries are no longer high only among urban households but also among rural households. Consumption of highly processed foods is also increasing in peri-urban and rural areas of some countries. These changes are affecting people’s food security and nutrition in ways that differ depending on where they live across the rural–urban continuum. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: The World Food Day 2024 brochure provides a brief overview of FAO’s work with countries and other partners to help manage water wisely as the availability of this precious resource is threatened by rapid population growth, urbanization, economic development, and climate change. Governments, the private sector, individuals and other sectors can also find out how they can help FAO in this endeavour. Find out more how you can promote World Food Day by reading this year’s Get Involved guide. Read also the Visual identity guidelines on how to use the visual. Download Posters, virtual backgrounds, gadgets, web and event banners from the World Food Day Asset Bank. Explore the children’s activity book. Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
PARTNERSHIPS
HOW TO GET INVOLVED?
The World Food Day (WFD) was established by FAO's Member Countries at the Organization's 20th General Conference in November 1979. FAO issued World Food Day medals each year to commemorate and promote the anniversary. In spite of the importance of agriculture as the driving force in the economies of many developing countries, this vital sector is frequently starved of investment. In particular, foreign aid to agriculture has shown marked declines over the past 20 years.
Collective action across 150 countries worldwide is what makes World Food Day one of the most celebrated UN days of the UN calendar. Hundreds of events and outreach activities bring together governments, businesses, CSOs, the media, the public, even youth. They promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure healthy diets for all, leaving no one behind.
Governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society and individuals need to work together in solidarity to prioritize the right of all people to food, nutrition, peace and equality. Indeed, every one of us, including youth, can work towards an inclusive and sustainable future, showing greater empathy and kindness in our actions.
What we eat, and how that food is produced all affect water. We can all improve the way we use water in our daily lives.
Governments need to acknowledge the crucial role of water for sustainable development, look at the overlapping crises of water, food, energy, biodiversity, climate, and health, and prioritize the need for an integrated management of precious water resources.
What can the private sector do?
Companies need to become water stewards ensuring that water use is socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically beneficial.
Civil society plays a key role in pushing for new laws and in collaborating with governments to deliver on their commitments to address water concerns while ensuring that the most vulnerable are not left behind.
Academia and researchers play an important role in taking food and water action. Research and data are key to a better understanding of the sustainable use of water, the risks to people, agriculture and the environment, and to monitoring progress.
As a consumer, look out for sustainable labels on clothing. You can purchase pre-loved clothing, thrift, or mend and repair clothes rather than throw them away. Invite people to play a role in the transformation of agrifood systems. Develop Urban Actions for a greener life by Exploring the Urban Actions web app to find out how you can give the gift of a sustainable city!
The World Food Day is hosted by the United Nations Food and Agricultur eOrganization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Center for International Agroforestry Research (CIFOR), the UN Environment, the Committed on Food Security (CFS), the World Food Programme (WFP)...
With the participation of Ministry of Agriculture of governments, the private companies, the farmers, the civil society, the academia, and all individuals, including youth.
Farmers are the guardians of our natural resources, and they need to be given the tools and tech-nologies to help manage water sustainably for the future of food.
IN FOCUS: Water is life, water is food - World Food Day 2023 will highlight how water is essential to life on Earth and the foundation of our food.