The United Nations says it is dedicated to championing the importance of a healthy diet and raising awareness about the challenges faced by millions of individuals who lack access to nutritious food.
The UN noted that the heart of the World Food Day celebration lies in the quest to eliminate hunger and manipulation for the generations yet to come.
It says that World Food Day brings together nearly 150 countries with all joining hands in various activities such as workshops, seminars, hunger marches and food marathons. These events serve as educational platforms, teaching people about the paramount role of nutritious food in maintaining overall health and well-being.
“World Food Day is not just a time for discussion; it’s a call to action. It urges governments, policymakers, stakeholders, and organizations to create and implement policies and programmes to combat hunger. Central to this effort is the promotion of sustainable agriculture, ensuring safe, sufficient, and nutritious food for everyone.”
With this year’s theme as: “Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind,” the UN stressed that water, an essential resource, is not only vital for food production but also for sustaining livelihoods. With half of the human body composed of water, this theme underscores the critical role it plays in our lives.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres highlighted the pressing global food crises nothing that nearly 780 million people worldwide facing hunger, and almost 50 million children at risk of severe wasting, adding that funding for humanitarian aid has fallen short this year, standing at just 32 percent of the required amount.
Established in 1070 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the day commemorates its founding in 1945, and remains committed to addressing the food-related challenges that millions face worldwide.
It also holds immense importance as it actively encourages sustainable agriculture practices, reducing food wastage, fostering a culture of healthy eating, and enhancing food security. Additionally, it promotes policies and programmes established by the UN to combat hunger and malnutrition while emphasizing the importance of safe and hygienic food to prevent foodborne illnesses.
Guterres stressed the urgency of addressing this crisis, calling on national governments to ensure their citizens have enough to eat. He emphasized the need for effective international solidarity, especially in the face of long-term causes of the global food crisis, including conflicts, climate extremes, inequality and economic instability.
To combat these challenges, Guterres stressed the UN’s commitment to supporting sustainable, equitable food systems that prioritize people over profits, calling for increased investments in resilient agriculture aligned with climate action and the use of science and technology to enhance the efficiency and reach of food systems.
He further noted that the emphasis for this years theme is derived from the importance of water for nutritious and healthy life, management for agriculture which is key to ending hunger, achieving Sustainable Development Goals and preserving water for future generations.
He therefore called for action, urging governments, the private sector, civil society and academia to work together to prioritize feeding the hungry and invest in long-term solutions to ensure everyone has enough to eat.
Guterres said: “In a world of plenty, the 2023 WFD serves as a reminder of the urgent need for collective efforts to achieve a world free from hunger and malnutrition.”
