World Food Day 2018

IN honor of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) on October 16, 1945, World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world. It was conceptualized during the 20th session of the United Nations FAO in Rome, Italy, in November, 1979, and is celebrated every year on October 16 since 1981.

World Food Day aims to promote awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and stresses the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all. With the theme “Our Actions Are Our Future,” World Food Day 2018 will be highlighted with the presentation of the Food Innovation Global Mission researchers on the best practices and Food Heroes stories.

The celebration also calls on the 130 member countries for increased action to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030. Even with the statistics showing that 805 million people worldwide live with chronic hunger, FAO is hopeful that hunger can still be solved if leaders of these member countries will work hand in hand and take account of lessons learned and best practices.

It has been noted that 821 million people worldwide suffer from hunger even though the world produces enough good to feed everyone. Of these numbers, 60% are women. In the Philippines, the second quarter 2018 Social Weather Stations Survey in June, 2018, showed that 9.4% — an estimated 2.2 million families — experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months.

From 2018 to 2024, the FAO in the Philippines gives priority to three Country Programming Framework Outcomes, namely, 1) improved nutrition for all; 2) expanded economic opportunities in agriculture, fishery, and forestry, and ensured ecological integrity, clean and healthy environment; and 3) reduced vulnerabilities of individuals and families.

As we celebrate World Food Day, let us urge everyone to help achieve Zero Hunger by following these measures: 1) don’t waste food; 2) produce more with less, 3) adopt a more healthy and sustainable diet.