World Food Day: October 16 2022
World Food Day: October 16 2022
Leave NO ONE Behind
World Food Day
World Food Day – held every year on October 16 - is a celebration and an opportunity to educate people about the issues around food, food insecurity, and food systems. Organized by the Food and Agricultural Organization, part of the United Nations, WFD is “one of the most celebrated UN days of the UN calendar” as there are hundreds of events bringing people together to promote awareness and action to help those who are suffering from hunger.
The theme for World Food Day 2022 is “Leave NO ONE Behind”, especially in terms of food insecurity. Because of the COVID pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine and other conflicts, and climate change, more people are at risk form food insecurity and hunger this year than last year. Anyone hungry causes us all to suffer.
Being left behind can mean not having enough food, not having access to healthy food, or not having access to safe food.
This WFD, if we want everyone to have access to healthy food, we need to consider how we are growing, manufacturing and consuming food so that our food system is more sustainable, All people have a right to food, nutrition, peace, and equality.
Celebrate
We can celebrate the people who work in the food system and celebrate the food that is grown by having a harvest festival, eating somewhere new, or preparing a meal together as a family.
I find it hard to “celebrate” World Food Day when 3 billion people worldwide cannot afford healthy food, so I’ve given some alternative suggestions below.
Organize
One way to ensure people have enough food is to make sure that they have enough money. Support farmworkers and food service workers and fast food workers with their unionization efforts. Learn more about unionizing in restaurants here.
Educate
Learn something new about food so attend a livestream of Food Tank’s World Food Day Event.
Recognize
The current food system uses and wastes too many resources and leaves to many people without access to food or to healthy food. This World Food Day, make a pledge to eat more sustainably. Here are some tips from World Wildlife Fund.
Start planning for World Food Day today and a change to make sure that we Leave NO ONE Behind.
Let me know in the comments what you intend to do this World Food Day.
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Who is Cathy Davies?
I write about the intersection of food science and food systems with an emphasis on food safety, food justice and resilience. I am concerned that climate disasters and changing weather patterns are affecting our ability to eat healthy, nutritious food.
I run a food safety consultancy, Food Safety Mid Atlantic, supporting specialty food businesses with their food safety plans and programs. If you are interested in learning more about my consulting services, please schedule a free call.
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