World Food Day 2023 - Importance, Themes and Facts

World Food Day: A Brief Overview

• World Food Day is commemorated globally every year on the 16th of October.
• This date was chosen as it marks the establishment of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945.
• Besides the FAO, World Food Day is also observed by other global bodies like the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme.
• These organizations are all dedicated to addressing global food security.
• The concept of World Food Day was proposed by Dr Pal Romany, the former Minister of Agriculture and Food with the Government of Hungary.
• World Food Day was first observed in 1979, and it is now celebrated in over 150 countries worldwide.

Global Food Challenges

Today, the world faces two major challenges in relation to food:

• Hunger, which can lead to stunted growth in children, malnutrition, and death.
• Access to a healthy diet, a problem that affects both the rich and the poor, leading to lifestyle diseases like diabetes and obesity.

World Food Day Themes

The themes for World Food Day for the past three years are as follows:

Key Facts on Global Food Issues

• Despite sufficient food production, one in nine people worldwide suffer from chronic hunger.
• Approximately 60% of the world’s hungry population are women.
• About 70% of the world’s extremely poor population live in rural areas, with most of them relying on agriculture for their livelihood.
• Hunger causes more deaths each year than malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS combined.
• Around 45% of infant deaths are related to undernutrition. Stunting still affects 151 million children under the age of five.
• 1.9 billion people – over a quarter of the world’s population – are overweight, with 672 million of these being obese. Each year, 3.4 million people die due to being overweight.
• In many countries, more people die from obesity than from homicides.
• The global economic cost of malnutrition is equivalent to USD 3.5 trillion per year.

World Food Day 2023: Nurturing Water for Sustenance

• Water, the wellspring of life, stands at the heart of World Food Day 2023. It's a stark reminder that water is not only essential for our existence but also plays a pivotal role in our food production, shaping our livelihoods, and influencing global food security.
• As we traverse our daily lives, it's crucial to acknowledge that water is a finite resource, one that should never be taken for granted. This year's World Food Day calls upon us to reflect upon what we consume and how our food is cultivated, recognizing their profound connection with water.
• The theme "Water is Food, Water is Life" underscores the interdependence of water and food. Water doesn't just quench our thirst; it nurtures the crops that feed us, sustains ecosystems, and bolsters the agriculture that supports millions of livelihoods.
• To evoke collective action, the global community is invited to participate in a series of flagship events. On October 16, 2023, the Global World Food Day Ceremony will be a focal point of discussion and action. Additionally, the third edition of Junior World Food Day, scheduled for October 19, promises to be a fun-filled event featuring stories, music, art, and dance. It will provide a platform for youth to engage in conversations that inspire water-focused actions for food security.
• A compelling promotional video has been shared to amplify the call for action. It serves as a rallying cry for individuals, governments, and organizations worldwide to prioritize water for food.
• Furthermore, a multilingual music video titled "Water is Food, Water is Life" unites students from diverse cultures in a harmonious call for water-conscious action. This song, produced by Kabin Studio and performed by the multicultural Piccola Orchestra di Tor Pignattara, aims to ignite the spirit of activism and advocacy among young people, positioning them as change-makers in the quest for a water-secure world.
• For the creatively inclined, the World Food Day Poster Contest 2023 beckons. The contest invites individuals to express their vision of a water and food secure world through artistic posters. It's an opportunity to showcase one's commitment to water action for food security, with submissions accepted until November 3, 2023.
• In a world grappling with water challenges, a collective effort is imperative. Governments, the private sector, farmers, academia, civil society, and individuals must unite to address these challenges. The aim is to produce more with less water, ensure equitable water distribution, safeguard aquatic food systems, and most importantly, ensure that no one is left behind.
• World Food Day 2023 reminds us that every one of us, regardless of age, holds the power to take action for a future where water sustains our food, our people, and our planet.