World Food day is celebrated on 16th October every year since 1979 to commemorate the formation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It is observed worldwide as a day of action against eradicating hunger and provide food security, the prime objective of FAO. Activities such as grassroots events and awareness campaigns are conducted for public, who can take part in the movement.
Sustainable food production and food security require optimizing resources and adopting practices to increase production in the same area of land. It also means reducing food losses before the final product or retail stage. That is why the global message for World Food Day 2016 is “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too.”
Why is this important to you?
The world produces more food than required to feed every person on earth. However, one in nine worldwide (805 million people), live with chronic hunger.
The right to adequate food is a fundamental human right.
It can happen to anyone. Even the wealthy can go hungry in no time due to socio-economic conditions, personal tragedy or times of crisis such as a natural calamity or war.
Hunger leads to increased levels of global insecurity. Hence the fight
against hunger is not just a moral obligation but a collective investment both in terms of economy and environmental integration.And most importantly, It IS possible in our lifetime. At the 2015 UN Summit, 150 countries have pledged to eradicate hunger as part of the Millennium Development Goals. Further, 40 countries have halved their hungry population in 2015.
What is Zero Hunger Challenge?
The Zero Hunger Challenge was launched by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2012. The Zero Hunger vision reflects five elements from within the Sustainable Development Goals, which taken together, can end hunger, eliminate all forms of malnutrition, and build inclusive and sustainable food systems by 2030.
What can YOU DO?
Are you willing to pledge your support to end hunger in your lifetime? Yes, it IS possible and through simple measures!
At home
You can become part of this movement and reduce your foodprint by making very simple yet conscious lifestyle changes:
- Be a conscious consumerBuy only what you need
- Try your best to consume locally grown food
- Pick ugly-looking fruits and vegetables
- Limit and recycle your food packaging
- Store food wisely
- Do not throw your leftovers
- Do not waste water
- Start your own vegetable garden
- Try home composting to feed your plants
- Diversify your diet- Include more vegetables and pulses such as lentils, beans and chickpeas. Besides providing better nutrition, they cost lesser resources than does meat.
This year has been declared as the International Year of Pulses for this very reason. You could also pledge to take a step further at the Community level.
- Start a community garden and donate the food.
- Organize regular food drives to gather food for a local food bank.
- Volunteer at a local community kitchen.
- Ask your local supermarket to donate food to a local charity
Need some inspiration?
The World Food Prize is being awarded since 1986 to people who make significant and measurable contributions to improving the world’s food supply, thereby emphasizing the importance of nutritious and sustainable food supply for all. The Prize recognizes contributions in several fields along the food supply chain including food and agriculture science and technology, manufacturing, marketing, nutrition, economics, poverty alleviation, political leadership and the social sciences.
It was created by the efforts of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work in world agriculture. Get inspired by the stories of Norman and the awardlaureates.
