Written by: Chithumi Egodage
Edited by: Thomas Lusa
Designed by: Alessa Zaitseva
Published by: Rayna Almas
In 1945 the United Nations food and agriculture organization established October the 16th as World Food Day. This day is meant to serve as a reminder of the world hunger and poverty that plague communities worldwide. Various countries celebrate this day in different ways, Canada specifically holds the largest celebrations In British Columbia. The Event is organized by the ‘Food for Famine Society.’ Along with the global celebrations, the day also receives an annual theme with this year’s theme being ‘Right to Foods for a better life and better future’
With action being taken in 150 countries, education being spread in over 50 languages, World Food Day is one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar. This kind of awareness is essential to helping bridge the gap of access to food, and more will be needed to ensure no one has to go to bed hungry. World Food day serves as a reminder as to the immense efforts that will be needed to eliminate hunger and undernutrition. It should be seen as a day to look back on the progress we’ve made, because there are still so many people to feed.
With World hunger being so prevalent with today’s times, this attention and awareness is dire to help change it. One of the most pressing issues today is the impact of climate change on food production. With increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and more frequent natural disasters, food systems around the world are under severe strain. Agricultural yields are being affected, especially in regions most vulnerable to climate shifts, such as sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. The result is that millions of people face heightened food insecurity, with smallholder farmers—who rely directly on the land for their livelihood—being hit the hardest. Along with this comes the rising prices of basic needs such as meals and groceries. These large economic and environmental pressures have forced the number of people facing food insecurity to rise.
In this light, World Food Day serves as a reminder that while we acknowledge the progress, we must remain vigilant and committed to the work that lies ahead. Hunger is not an abstract issue—it’s an everyday reality for millions. World Food Day asks us to stand together, spread awareness, and take action, because only by doing so can we ensure that no one is left behind in the fight for food justice. Visit World Food Day: What Can You Do to help make a difference today.
Sources –
https://www.fao.org/world-food-day/en
https://www.worldfooddaycanada.ca/about/
https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/bff3e31a-419e-4def-87ce-6f163fa6ee07
https://www.fao.org/world-food-day/events/detail/world-food-day-2024-global-ceremony/en