This year, the FAO has chosen the theme “World Food Security: the Challenge of Climate Change and Bioenergy”.

In a period of rising food prices caused by high fuel costs, the conversion of food sources to fuel, and the negative effects of the climate change on food supplies, the observance of World Food Day at National Science Centre will promote visitor awareness of the need to assume personal responsibility for ensuring food security.

Visitors will receive fact sheets prepared by the FAO on Climate Change and the Biofuel industry and their connection to world food security. An information display will reinforce the salient points and the pictorial exhibit, “What Can We Do?”, will show visitors some simple measures adopted by communities to tackle rising food prices and meet their food needs. This will be complemented by a display of re-useable containers which can be used in home gardening.

“Fruit For so”, another display, stresses the value of incorporating fresh fruit in one’s diet. The display also educates on the less popular fruit that add to the variety of Trinidad and Tobago’s natural bounty.

“The growing seed” is a hands-on activity designed for pre-schoolers. It teaches the parts of a seed and the sequence of events which lead to the development of a seedling.

To encourage visitors to take a practical approach to food security, they will receive a vegetable seedling to begin their own backyard garden. We hope that the challenge will be warmly welcomed by all, as we work towards ensuring our own food security