Marking World Food Day Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called hunger a “terrible injustice” and reaffirmed the global community’s commitment to work together to end hunger.
“This year’s observance of World Food Day follows the landmark adoption by world leaders of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including a set of 17 goals to guide our work towards a future of dignity and prosperity for all on a healthy planet,” Ban said.
As a day of action against hunger, World Food Day celebrates the creation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on October 16, 1945 in Quebec, Canada. Since the first World Food Day was celebrated in 1979, millions of people have joined to declare their commitment to eradicate hunger.
The theme for this year’s World Food Day is “Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty.” According to the UN this theme highlights the crucial role cash transfers, insurance, pensions and other social protection programs play in enabling vulnerable people to better manage risks and build profitable livelihoods.
Ban spoke out against food waste pointing out that nearly a third of all food produced in the world is lost or wasted, yet almost 800 million people remain hungry.
“The Zero Hunger Challenge that I launched in 2012 underscores the need for national leadership in tandem with wide-ranging multi-stakeholder partnerships,” Ban said, adding that “ending hunger is everyone’s responsibility,” which includes farmers, scientists, international organizations, activists, businesses and consumers.
More on World Food Day can be found here.
