Page 28 - Vol.36-No.8 issue

As fao turns 75, its mission to end hunger and nourish the world is as relevant today as ever

WORLD FOOD DAY

AS FAO TURNS 75, ITS MISSION TO END HUNGER AND

NOURISH THE WORLD IS AS RELEVANT TODAY AS EVER

hunger and rural development instead
would also be a “courageous deci-
sion”, said the Pope.
“Hunger is not merely a disaster for
humanity but also a disgrace... We can-
not fail to respond or to act. We all are
responsible,” said Pope Francis.
His words were echoed by UN’s Sec-
retary-General António Guterres who
called for intensified efforts to achieve
the vision of Sustainable Develop-
ment Goals - “a future where everyone
everywhere has access to the nutrition
they need”. To inspire action towards
this vision, Guterres said, he will con-
vene a Food Systems Summit next year.
Noting that his country was proud to
host FAO’s headquarters, Italy’s Pres-
During World Food Day marks the Time to build back better ident Sergio Mattarella said he wel-
75th anniversary of the Food and Agri- comed FAO’s and its Director-Gener-
culture Organization (FAO) of the Unit- World Food Day is marked this year al’s “commitment to work with Italy and
ed Nations. as global hunger rises for the fifth con- many other countries in forging a “food
Born on the wake of catastrophe - secutive year and a healthy diet is out coalition” aimed at containing the ef-
fects of COVID-19 on food systems”.
World War II, three-quarters of a cen- of reach for 3 billion people. Nearly 700
tury later, FAO’s mission to end hunger million people still go hungry, and the This is the moment of “crucial choic-
and nourish the world has been made pandemic could tip up to 132 million es”, and of “a serious global com-
more relevant because of another glob- more into hunger by the end of 2020. mitment,” concluded Mattarella who
al scourge - the COVID-19 pandemic, This year’s World Food Day aims to expressed hope for the international
said QU Dongyu, FAO Director-Gener- community to rediscover a “profound
al. galvanize and accelerate action to- meaning of the valuable goods the
wards ending hunger and malnutri-
Along the way, the world, and with tion in all its forms, and to make food earth offers us” and the “responsibility
it FAO, went from growing more food, and agriculture an essential part of the to share and safeguard them for future
to getting attuned to its environmental COVID-19 response. generations”.
footprints, setting up regulatory frame- Healthy diets for all
works in response, getting animal dis- Chief amongst them, as speakers at
eases under control, and, finally, seeing today’s event noted, are global solidar-
the fight against hunger as inseparable ity and building more resilient, robust FAO Goodwill Ambassadors for Nu-
from other development goals. agri-food systems that can withstand trition, King Letsie III of Lesotho and
shocks, deliver affordable and sustain- Queen Letizia of Spain stressed that
Hence, also, this year’s World Food able healthy diets for all, and decent healthy diets were everyone’s right.
Day’s theme: grow, nourish, and sus- livelihoods for all workers along the
King Letsie III underlined that most of
tain. Together. food supply chain. the people who cannot afford a healthy
“The present moment is again “Now is the time to rethink our ap- diet live in Africa and Asia, and called
fraught with danger, complicated, and proaches and redouble our efforts,” for “concerted efforts to bring down
demands urgent action. As hunger said Qu. the cost of nutritious foods” so more
grows once more, as the COVID-19 people can afford them.
pandemic exposes the fragility of our Amongst these, Qu highlighted pi-
food systems, history is calling upon oneering sciences and technologies, “The nutritional status of the most
us once more to rise to the challenge,” stressing that “Innovation is our ally vulnerable populations groups is likely
urged Qu. in re-imagining our food systems and to deteriorate further as a result of the
ending hunger, as we are morally and destructive health and social economic
The Director-General spoke today at politically bound to do in the next ten impact of COVID-19,” warned King Let-
FAO’s global 75th Anniversary/World years”. sie III.
Food Day virtual event in Rome, which
brought together Pope Francis; Italy’s Pope Francis urged for more support Highlighting that hundreds of mil-
President; Lesotho’s King and Spain’s for FAO’s and all UN food agencies’ in- lions go hungry whilst many more suf-
Queen - FAO Special Goodwill Am- itiatives that promote sustainable and fer from obesity, Queen Letizia said:
bassadors for Nutrition; UN’s Secretary diversified agriculture, and support “These imbalances should make us
General; and the heads of IFAD and small farming communities and the think about how to strengthen food sys-
WFP. rural development of the poorest coun- tems, seeking shorter marketing path-
tries. ways to encourage
Saluting FAO’s anniversary, Pope
Francis described the organization’s Using the money that buys arms and
mission as “beautiful and important”. covers military expenses for defeating Circle 32 on enquiry card

26 Vol. 36 No. 8