World Food Day observed with the theme Social Protection and Agriculture

16 October: World Food Day
World Food Day (WFD) was observed across the world on 16 October 2015 with the theme Social Protection and Agriculture. The day is observed with an aim to raise public awareness about hunger challenges and encourage people worldwide to take action in the fight against hunger.  

The theme aims to underline the role social protection plays in reducing chronic food insecurity and poverty by ensuring direct access to food or the means to buy food. Social protection is, moreover, a viable alternative for stimulating agricultural production and local economic activity.

The theme particularly reflects WFOs (World Farmers Organisation) intention to highlight important agriculture-related issues, drawing attention to achievements in rural development and encouraging agricultural food production.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has stated agricultural production must increase by 60% globally to meet the food demand that will be required to feed the 9.2 billion people who will inhabit our planet in 2050.

In order to guarantee this result and face this challenge, it is crucial to ensure that farmers have access to infrastructures, credit and functioning markets. Farmers also need to have access to science, innovation and knowledge, which are essential for the development of the agricultural sector.

Apart from the World Food Day, the FAO also observed World Food week from 12 October to 16 October 2015. The week was observed with the opening of the 42nd Session of the Committee on World Food Security. The main highlights of the week were launch of the new edition of FAO's flagship publication, World Food Day 2015 Ceremony at Expo Milano and others.

World Food Day (WFD)
World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16 October globally to commemorate the date of establishment of the FAO in 1945. The day is celebrated widely by many other organisations concerned with food security including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

World Food Day was established by FAO's Member Countries at the 20th General Conference of FAO in November 1979. The Hungarian Delegation suggested the idea of celebrating the WFD worldwide during the General Conference.

Since then, it is being observed every year in more than 150 countries, raising awareness of the issues behind poverty and hunger. World Food Day was first held on 16 October 1981.

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