World Food Day

World Food Day History

World Food Day aims to raise awareness about pressing food-related issues and promote global solidarity in the fight against hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. This event aims to draw attention to the importance of achieving sustainable food systems and developing agricultural practices that ensure food security for all. It serves as a platform for advocating for the eradication of existing inequalities and supporting the fundamental right to nutritious, healthy, and sufficient food for everyone, regardless of their socio-economic background.

This international observance was founded in 1979 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which set the date to commemorate its own establishment in 1945. World Food Day highlights the urgent need to address challenges such as food waste, the increasing demand for food due to population growth, the adverse environmental impacts of unsustainable farming practices, and the importance of supporting local farmers and producers. By participating in and supporting World Food Day events and campaigns, Americans can contribute to the global effort to achieve Zero Hunger – one of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals – and ensure food security and access for everyone, both at home and abroad.

In America, World Food Day is observed through various initiatives, events, and activities aimed at raising awareness and support for food-related issues. These may include educational programs, fundraising events, food drives, volunteering opportunities, and online campaigns to promote sustainable agriculture and responsible consumption practices. Additionally, local and regional organizations often host events to showcase local food culture and promote support for family farmers and small businesses. World Food Day is commemorated annually on October 16th.

World Food Day facts & quotes

• The theme for World Food Day in 2023 was Food standards save lives.
• Approximately 1/3 of all food produced worldwide, about $1 trillion dollars worth, is wasted. The biggest culprits are industrialized countries; they waste almost as much food as the entire production weight of sub-Saharan Africa- 222 million vs 230 million tons.
• Sugarcane is the most produced crop worldwide, followed by maize, rice, wheat, potatoes, soybeans, cassava, tomatoes, bananas, onions, apples, and grapes
• The Food and Agriculture of the United Nations acts as a forum for international efforts that aim to reduce food insecurity by acting as a forum for states to meet and negotiate trade agreements and policy.
• The quest for food security can be the common thread that links the different challenges we face and helps build a sustainable future. – José Graziano da Silva, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General
• In a world of plenty, no one, not a single person, should go hungry. But almost 1 billion still do not have enough to eat. I want to see an end to hunger everywhere within my lifetime. – Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Secretary-General

In the News and Trending in the US for World Food Day

Top things to do in the US for World Food Day

• Do not waste food. World Food Day promotes Think. Eat. Save. as a way to reduce waste. Think about what you’re buying, plan meals and shop smart. Eat mindfully. Are your eyes too big for your stomach? Save food, save money, save the environment.
• Lobby your government to change its laws on waste. In 2016, France passed a law banning supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food. These would instead be donated to charities and food banks.
• Watch a documentary about the food production process. Food Inc. (2008), Super Size Me (2004) or Fresh (2009) are all documentaries about food production and waste.
• Read a book about food activism or ethical-farming. Here are some books that may help in finding sustainable solutions to feed the estimated 9.6 billion future population of 2050:
  1)The Big Pivot: Radically Practical Strategies for a Hotter, Scarcer, and More Open World by Andrew S Winston
  2)Feeding Frenzy: Land Grabs, Price Spikes, and the World Food Crisis by Paul McMahon
  3)The Political Economy of Arab Food Sovereignty by Jane Harrigan