Exploring its importance and theme
With a clear division between the haves and have nots, celebrating this day is crucial now more than ever
World Food Day is celebrated across the globe on October 16 every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
The day aims at tackling global hunger and striving to eradicate hunger across the world.
This day is also celebrated by organisations like World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agriculture Development. WFP was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Peace (2020) for its contributions towards fighting hunger, providing peace in conflict areas, and stopping the use of hunger as a weapon in wars and conflicts.
History:
World Food Day was first observed in 1945 to mark the launch of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation. Its main focus is to celebrate the promotion of food security worldwide.
Especially in difficult times like the Covid-19 pandemic, this organisation has played a pivotal role in achieving this goal.
This day also serves as a reminder of the necessity of this organisation. It helps to make the world aware of the requirement for better agriculture policies to be adopted and executed by governments worldwide to ensure there is enough food available for everyone. This day is celebrated by more than 150 countries across the globe.
Significance:
World Food Day is not just about celebrating the mouthwatering delicious food that we are lucky enough to eat, but it is also an opportunity to raise awareness about the people who aren’t that lucky to enjoy even one meal a day.
There are millions of people across the globe who are struggling with hunger, and they do not have adequate food to survive. Starvation is a global crisis that needs to be addressed and tackled before it’s too late.
We live in a society where a few people can manage to indulge in the finest of delicacies without any thoughts — still, there are many who struggle for food daily.
World Food Day 2021 theme:
Every year, the authorities come up with a new theme for World Food Day, revolving around agriculture, food and investments to increase the production of food products. The theme for this year is — “Safe Food Now For A Healthier Tomorrow”. It stresses upon the various immediate and long-term benefits of consuming safe and healthy food.