The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) declared October 16th as ‘World Food Day’ to raise awareness on global campaigns to end hunger and ensure everyone has access to nutritious food. The FAO intended to start a fight against hunger, promote action against malnutrition, raise awareness about healthy diets and ensure food security. Through this initiative, governments, NGOs, other institutions and individuals worldwide hope to eradicate hunger, boost agricultural productivity and support a sustainable food system. 

Understanding the Global Hunger Index (GHI)

The GHI is a tool used to measure and track hunger levels in countries. Its results are jointly published by an Irish humanitarian organisation called Concern Worldwide and the German aid agency Welthungerhilfe. GHI assesses hunger based on four indicators - 

• Undernourishment - a measure of caloric deficiency among the population
• Child wasting - share of children under 5 years with low weight for their height
• Child stunting - share of children under 5 years who are short for their age
• Child mortality - share of children who die before their fifth birthday

In 2024, India ranks 105th out of 127 countries with a GHI score of 27.3, putting it in the ‘serious’ category with critical hunger issues. 

Theme and focus areas

Each year, the World Food Day event focuses on specific themes that highlight issues related to food security, malnutrition or agriculture. In recent years the themes were ‘Sustainable food systems’ or ‘zero hunger’. The theme for World Food Day 2024 is ‘Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future’. Through this theme, the FAO is highlighting the need for nutrition, diversity, safety and affordability in food. They stress the need for a diversity of nutritious foods that should be available “in our fields, in our markets, and on our tables, for the benefit of all.”

FAO uses these themes and the day to highlight issues of environmental sustainability, economic development and health. They hope to encourage governments, organisations and individuals to take positive steps towards improving food systems and ensuring everyone has access to a nutritious diet. 

What is a healthy diet?

A healthy diet comprises diverse foods that meet various nutrient needs and balance one’s energy intake. To ensure individuals get healthy diets, it is important to streamline the agricultural systems at multiple levels by ensuring - 

• Use of sustainable farming practices
• Organic farming
• Diversity in crop cultivation
• Controlling food prices
• Adequate support through training and the introduction of favourable policies by the government
• A streamlined supply chain that is low-cost, timely and well-maintained to ensure no nutrient loss and less wastage.

A healthy diet from farm to table

Sustainable agriculture is crucial for addressing food insecurity and it is important to adopt practices that conserve natural resources, promote biodiversity and protect the environment. It is important to create food systems that are resilient and enduring. Organic farming, crop rotation, and agroforestry enhance food production and protect the environment. Investments in research and technology can lead to greater innovations to improve crop yields while minimising environmental impact.

Reducing food wastage

Despite the alarming food scarcity worldwide, the planet is not averse to mindless good wastage. According to the FAO, approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumption which is around 1.3 billion tons, is wasted each year. This waste has severe environmental repercussions, as discarded food decomposes in landfills and releases greenhouse gases. Through their awareness campaigns, Individuals and organisations are encouraged to reduce food waste, through simple measures such as meal planning, proper food storage, and utilising leftovers. Raising awareness about the importance of reducing food waste can help shift societal norms and behaviours.

Conclusion 

Community engagement is at the heart of the various events and initiatives undertaken on World Food Day as a means to ensure that the message reaches the grassroots. Everyone has a role to play in addressing food insecurity and promoting sustainable agriculture. This can be accomplished through advocating for policy changes, supporting local farmers, reducing food waste, and raising awareness through our collective efforts. It is a time to reflect on our food systems and recognise the power of our choices in creating a better world.