Time to build back better!

In recent decades the world has made significant progress in improving agricultural productivity. Although we now produce more than enough food to feed everyone, our food systems are out of balance. Hunger, obesity, environmental degradation, loss of agro-biological diversity, food loss and waste and a lack of security for food chain workers are only some of the issues that underline this imbalance. As countries begin to develop and implement COVID-19 recovery plans, it is an opportunity to adopt innovative solutions based on scientific evidence so they can build back better and improve food systems, making them more resistant to shocks.

World Food Day is calling for global solidarity to help all populations, and especially the most vulnerable, to recover from the crisis, and to make food systems more resilient and robust so they can withstand increasing volatility and climate shocks, deliver affordable and sustainable healthy diets for all, and decent livelihoods for food system workers. This will require improved social protection schemes and new opportunities offered through digitalization and e-commerce, but also more sustainable agricultural practices that preserve the Earth’s natural resources, our health, and the climate.

World Food Day Ceremony

FAO Special Ambassadors, heads of the Rome-Based UN agencies, and other keynote speakers will join FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu to mark FAO’s 75th anniversary during the global World Food Day ceremony on Friday, 16 October. The digital event will also include messages and calls to action from His Holiness Pope Francis, the President of the Republic of Italy, and the UN Secretary-General to ensure that everyone, everywhere, recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and has access to the safe, healthy and nutritious food they need. Pre-register to watch the ceremony from 14.00 CET by webinar here. You can also watch the event by webcast here.