World Food Day 2023: The day is celebrated by several organisations that are concerned with food security like the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Food Program, etc. This day generates awareness globally for those who suffer from hunger and ensures the need for food security and nutritious diets for all. The main focus of this day is that food is a basic and fundamental human right.
World Food Day 2023 is devoted to highlighting food and agriculture and is marked every year with multiple global challenges, conflict, climate change, rising prices and international tensions.
World Food Day 2023: Theme
World Food Day 2023 theme is 'Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.' The theme for the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations states, "Water is essential to life on Earth. It covers the majority of the Earth's surface, makes up over 50% of our bodies, produces our food, and supports livelihoods. But this precious resource is not infinite and we need to stop taking it for granted. What we eat, and how that food is produced all affect water. Together, we can take water action for food and be the change."
The theme of World Food Day 2022 is "Leave No One Behind".
The theme of World Food Day 2019 was “Our Actions Are Our Future. Healthy Diets for A #ZeroHunger World". It focuses on tackling global hunger. Due to globalization, urbanisation, and income growth, our diets and eating habits have changed. Instead of seasonal, fibre-rich food and plant-based food, we are shifted to refined, starches, sugar, fats, salt, processed food, meat, etc. It has been seen that in urban areas the time spent preparing food or meals is much less because people these days rely on ready-made food, supermarkets, fast food, street food, etc.
Due to unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles, obesity in people is increasing in developed, low-income countries. According to FAO, 670 million adults and 120 million girls and boys of the age group, 5 to 18 years are obese and 40 million children under 5 are overweight. Around 820 million people suffer from hunger.
World Food Day: History
The member countries of the Food and Agriculture Organisation established World Food Day in November 1979 at the organisation's 20th General Conference and called for the observance of World Food Day on 16 October 1981. This decision was ratified by the UN General Assembly on 5 December 1980 and urged governments and international, national and local organizations to contribute to celebrating World Food Day. Since 1981, World Food Day has been held every year.
World Food Day 2023: Significance
World Food Day is an opportunity to put the spotlight on the global challenge of hunger and malnutrition. The goal of the day is to emphasise equal access to food, and water, promote sustainable agricultural practices and raise awareness about food-related issues. World Food Day 2023 focuses on the collective responsibility of society to foster healthy and sustainable food systems.
World Food Day: Celebrations
This year people are urged to celebrate with those people who produce, plant, harvest, fish, or transport our food and call on the public to thank these #FoodHeroes who, no matter the circumstances, continue to provide food to their communities and beyond - helping to grow, nourish and sustain our world. You can also use digital platforms to spread the day and its importance.
Various events are organized on this day. At FAO, headquarter in Rome, Italy program on large scale is organised. It mainly focuses on the attention towards food supply. Some UN Organisations and universities organise symposia, conferences, workshops, presentations on topics like food production, distribution, and security.
India is a country with diverse cultures and traditions. Festivals are celebrated across the country in different styles and manners from one state to another. On this day, some families preserve food and distribute it to the needy and poor. In some private companies and Government organisations there is a scheme in which salary is deducted from those employees who voluntarily want to donate to the food bank and the collected money may be utilised at the time of natural calamities, disasters, etc.
About the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
It is a specialised agency of the United Nations that works towards defeating hunger via international efforts. FAO aims to achieve food security for all and to make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active healthy lives.
What is a healthy diet and its importance?
A healthy diet meets the nutritional needs of people by providing sufficient, safe, nutritious, and diverse foods to lead a good life and reduce the risk of disease. We can't ignore the fact that nutritious diets at times are costly and is not affordable to many people.
Do you know that an unhealthy diet is the main risk factor for several deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancers? Nearly one in three people is affected by obesity and some other forms of malnutrition. No doubt, there are solutions to reduce all forms of malnutrition but the global commitment and action to be taken are required with full commitment.
The combination of good nutrition and healthy weight reduces the risk of chronic diseases. If you eat healthily, nutrients will reach your body and you will remain healthy, active, and strong. Physical activity with a healthy diet also plays an important role.
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO): Organisation to defeat hunger.