World Food Day 2024; October 16th.

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: #WorldFoodDay, #16october, #Leavenoonebehind, #FutureofFood.

EVENT: On October 16th; The FAO will hold a high-level event 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. Register to participate!

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.

Right to Foods for a better life and a better future

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.

Keynote speaker:

Luke Tay - Singapore Futures Fellow, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

KEY FACTS

• Around 733 million people are facing hunger in the world.
• Some 2.5 billion adults and 37 million children under the age of five are overweight.
• Yearly, 600 million people fall ill and 420 000 die from eating contaminated food.
• Some 22.3% children under the age of five are too short for their age and 6.8% are too thin for their height.
• Some 890 million adults are living with obesity.
• Indigenous Peoples represent more than 19% of the extreme poor.
• Over 2.8 billion people in the world are unable to afford a healthy diet.
• Conflict and violence are primary causes of hunger. Nearly half of all people suffering acute hunger in 2023 were caught in conflict – almost 135 million people in 20 countries.
• The world’s smallholder farmers produce around a third of the world’s food.
• Worldwide, women are 1.3% more likely to be moderately or severely food insecure than men.
• Climate change disproportionately affects the rural poor and their agricultural yields and productivity.
• Globally, 13% of food is lost during harvest and transport, and 19% is wasted at the retail and consumer stage
• More than 1.6 billion women and children across all world regions are deficient in one or more vitamins or minerals.

ACTIONS

Collective action across over 150 countries worldwide is what makes World Food Day one of the most celebrated days in the United Nations calendar. Hundreds of events and outreach activities bring together governments, businesses, civil society organizations, the media, and the public, including many young people. They promote worldwide awareness of hunger and spark action for the future of food, people and the planet.


What can you do?

Only when everyone enjoys the human right to adequate food will we be able to achieve other human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a blueprint for a more equal and just future for all people everywhere. And we all have a role to play. As consumers, we can exercise rights and call on governments to tackle inequality and poverty, make healthy food choices to increase their availability, reduce food waste and protect the environment. Read more

What does FAO do?

FAO provides countries with technical assistance on policy and legislation, strengthens governance and monitoring mechanisms, develops capacities and promotes multi-stakeholder policy dialogue to transform agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all. They also provide humanitarian and resilience building assistance to the most vulnerable, crisis-hit people and their communities, providing time-critical agricultural support to almost 57 million people in 2023. A food secure and nutritious world for all requires massive investment, innovation, science, technology and wide collaboration between a range of actors including governments, the private sector, academic and research institutions and civil society.

Make World Food Day YOUR day!

Farmers

• Practice sustainable agriculture that enhances biodiversity and manages natural resources responsibly.
• Produce more diverse foods.
• Advocate for policies that empower small-scale producers, family farmers and women.
• Reduce food loss.
• Follow regulations and good practices to make sure foods produced are safe

Private Sector

• Make more nutritious and diverse foods available at affordable prices.
• Support small-scale food producers and family farmers.
• Promote corporate social responsibility through ethical, sustainable production and inclusive business models.
• Apply all standards and good practices to make sure foods produced are safe.
• Market foods responsibly and avoid promoting unhealthy foods to children.

Academia & Civil Society Organizations

• Hold governments accountable by collecting data, identifying areas for improvement, and measuring progress towards targets and goals.
• Collaborate with policymakers to base policies and strategies on data and evidence.
• Promote healthy diets and sustainable agrifood systems.
• Transfer the latest knowledge and technology to farmers and decision-makers through partnerships and trainings.

All Of Us

• Raise your voice to influence decision-making.
• Choose local and seasonal foods to support biodiversity.
• Embrace healthy diets and lifestyles.
• Understand food labels to make healthy food choices.
• Learn ways to identify food safety issues and to keep food safe.

 Join an event or an activity nearby you and and show how you are taking action.

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LIVETREAM: The Heads of the Rome-based UN agencies and other special guests will speak at the ceremony on the theme Right to 'foods' for a better life and a better future, which will feature special messages from Pope Francis and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as well as the presentation of FAO awards. Watch the livestream!