PURPOSE: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) designated 16 October as World Food Day in 1979. The aim of the day is to promote global awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger, and to highlight the need to ensure healthy diets for all. As the world population continues to grow, much more effort and innovation will be urgently needed in order to sustainably increase agricultural production, improve the global supply chain, decrease food losses and waste, and ensure that all who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition have access to nutritious food. Many in the international community believe that it is possible to eradicate hunger within the next generation, and are working together to achieve this goal.
FORUM: "Water is Life -Water is food: Leave no one behind." World Food Day 2023. Water is essential to life on Earth. It makes up over 50% of our bodies and covers about 71% of the Earth’s surface. Only 2.5% of water is fresh, suitable for drinking, agriculture, and most industrial uses. Water is a driving force for people, economies and nature and the foundation of our food. Indeed, agriculture accounts for 72% of global freshwater withdrawals, but like all natural resources, fresh water is not infinite. Rapid population growth, urbanization, economic development, and climate change are putting the planet’s water resources under increasing stress. At the same time, freshwater resources per person have declined 20% in the past decades and water availability and quality are deteriorating fast due to decades of poor use and management, over extraction of groundwater, pollution and climate change. We risk stretching this precious resource to a point of no return. Today, 2.4 billion people live in water-stressed countries. Many are smallholder farmers who already struggle to meet their daily needs, particularly women, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, and refugees. Competition for this priceless resource is increasing as water scarcity becomes an ever-increasing cause of conflict. Around 600 million people who depend, at least partially, on aquatic food systems for a living are suffering the effects of pollution, ecosystem degradation, unsustainable practices and climate change. The theme of this year's World Food Day is centering on water, emphasizing its critical role in nutritious and healthy food. Sustainable water management for agriculture and food production is indispensable to ending hunger, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and preserving water for future generations. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldFoodDay, #16october, #Leavenoonebehind, #FutureofFood.
EVENTS: The World Food Day 2023 will be held on October 16th at the FAO Headquaters in Rome. The World Food Day 2023 Ceremony and Achievement Award will start at 10:00 AM Rome time; The World Food Forum grand opening will start at 14:00 PM Rome time. A dynamic launch event, uniting global leaders, innovators and activists, marks the beginning of the 2023 World Food Forum. Join us for inspiring speeches and performances as we ignite a movement to transform agrifood systems and accelerate climate action. A brighter future starts here. The Concert and Global Youth Forum opening will be held at 18:00 PM Rome time to celebrate the power of music as a catalyst for change while we kickstart the WFF Global Youth Forum with the WFF's annual concert featuring young upcoming artists from around the globe. Get ready for this year’s World Food Day global events! Save the date and stay tuned for more details.
WEBINARS: Join us at The Hague or online on 18 October for a dialogue on how the Rule of Law can contribute to food systems transformation.
STATEMENTS: Read the Statement from the United Nations Secretary-General on World Food Day 2023 and the Statement from the FAO Director-General on World Food Day 2023.
World Food Day 2023 Ceremony and Achievement Award.
We'll be kick-starting the World Food Day global events at FAO headquarters with the annual ceremony. The Heads of the Rome-based UN agencies and other special guests will be invited to attend the ceremony, which will feature special messages from Pope Francis and the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres and as well as the presentation of the FAO Achievement Award. Watch the World Food Day 2023 Hybrid ceremony!
Junior World Food Day
The World Food Forum's (WFF) flagship event is comprised of the WFF Global Youth Forum, the FAO Science and Innovation Forum and the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. In 2023, the WFF flagship event will take place from 16 to 20 October at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy and virtually. Join the young people for an inspiring conversation to learn concrete water-saving actions. There will be stories, music, art and dance, accompanied by a live performance of the 2023 youth music video by the multicultural Piccola Orchestra di Tor Pignattara and friends. Watch the Junior World Food Day 2023 event!
PODCASTS: The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. “Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum.” provides an update on global progress towards the targets of ending hunger (SDG Target 2.1) and an update on all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2) and estimates on the number of people who are unable to afford a healthy diet. New evidence shows that food purchases in some countries are no longer high only among urban households but also among rural households. Consumption of highly processed foods is also increasing in peri-urban and rural areas of some countries. These changes are affecting people’s food security and nutrition in ways that differ depending on where they live across the rural–urban continuum. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: "Water is Life -Water is food: Leave no one behind." The World Food Day 2023 brochure provides a brief overview of FAO’s work with countries and other partners to help manage water wisely as the availability of this precious resource is threatened by rapid population growth, urbanization, economic development, and climate change. Governments, the private sector, individuals and other sectors can also find out how they can help FAO in this endeavour. Find out more how you can promote World Food Day by reading our Get Involved guide. Read also the Visual identity guidelines on how to use the visual. Download Posters, virtual backgrounds, gadgets, web and event banners, and so much more from the World Food Day Asset Bank. Explore the children’s activity book. Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
PARTNERSHIPS
HOW TO GET INVOLVED?
The World Food Day (WFD) was established by FAO's Member Countries at the Organization's 20th General Conference in November 1979. FAO issued World Food Day medals each year to commemorate and promote the anniversary. In spite of the importance of agriculture as the driving force in the economies of many developing countries, this vital sector is frequently starved of investment. In particular, foreign aid to agriculture has shown marked declines over the past 20 years.
Collective action across 150 countries worldwide is what makes World Food Day one of the most celebrated UN days of the UN calendar. Hundreds of events and outreach activities bring together governments, businesses, CSOs, the media, the public, even youth. They promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure healthy diets for all, leaving no one behind.
Governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society and individuals need to work together in solidarity to prioritize the right of all people to food, nutrition, peace and equality. Indeed, every one of us, including youth, can work towards an inclusive and sustainable future, showing greater empathy and kindness in our actions.
What we eat, and how that food is produced all affect water. We can all improve the way we use water in our daily lives.
Governments need to acknowledge the crucial role of water for sustainable development, look at the overlapping crises of water, food, energy, biodiversity, climate, and health, and prioritize the need for an integrated management of precious water resources.
What can the private sector do?
Companies need to become water stewards ensuring that water use is socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically beneficial.
Civil society plays a key role in pushing for new laws and in collaborating with governments to deliver on their commitments to address water concerns while ensuring that the most vulnerable are not left behind.
Academia and researchers play an important role in taking food and water action. Research and data are key to a better understanding of the sustainable use of water, the risks to people, agriculture and the environment, and to monitoring progress.
As a consumer, look out for sustainable labels on clothing. You can purchase pre-loved clothing, thrift, or mend and repair clothes rather than throw them away. Invite people to play a role in the transformation of agrifood systems. Develop Urban Actions for a greener life by Exploring the Urban Actions web app to find out how you can give the gift of a sustainable city!
The World Food Day is hosted by the United Nations Food and Agricultur eOrganization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Center for International Agroforestry Research (CIFOR), the UN Environment, the Committed on Food Security (CFS), the World Food Programme (WFP)...
With the participation of Ministry of Agriculture of governments, the private companies, the farmers, the civil society, the academia, and all individuals, including youth.
Farmers are the guardians of our natural resources, and they need to be given the tools and tech-nologies to help manage water sustainably for the future of food.
IN FOCUS: Water is life, water is food - World Food Day 2023 will highlight how water is essential to life on Earth and the foundation of our food.