World Food Day 2024 celebrated across Europe and Central Asia

31/10/2024

World Food Day is commemorated every year on 16 October, the date FAO was founded in 1945. The theme this year – Right to foods for a better life and a better future – was meant to highlight access to adequate, safe, affordable and nutritious food as a fundamental human right.

The right to food is a key aspect of human dignity: Every individual should have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to lead a healthy life. This right is enshrined in various international agreements, including in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which addresses the obligation of all countries to ensure the production and distribution of food to all peoples of the world. 

The theme underscores the importance of a varied diet as well as availability and accessibility, emphasizing that food should not only be plentiful but also affordable and culturally appropriate and diverse. It also points out the need for comprehensive approaches to eradicate hunger and malnutrition.

FAO works to build a just and equitable world in which everyone has a food-secure, nutritious, varied and affordable diet. To highlight this mandate on World Food Day, FAO offices in Europe and Central Asia organized activities of an impressively wide variety in nature, format and scope. Some were celebratory – a run, a horse race, an agricultural fair and a building illumination. Some were educational, taking the form of a conference, a forum and a video. Others incorporated mentions of World Food Day within speeches or relied on the power of social media. Underlying all these observances was the common awareness that success in making a better world will come only when no one is left behind.

What follows is a selection of the events that happened across the Europe and Central Asia region in 2024.

Albania

The Chestnut Festival was organized to celebrate the importance of the right to food and to promote the tradition of using seasonal and local products. As part of the One Country One Product initiative, FAO is supporting the sustainable chestnut value chain in Albania.

Armenia

In a video message, FAO Representative in Armenia Raimund Jehle emphasized the importance of collective action in addressing global food challenges. Representatives from the Government of Armenia and World Food Programme also spoke.

The event included a panel discussion on agricultural land use issues, the organization of the agrifood sector and food security concerns. Students from the Armenian National Agrarian University shared a variety of innovative visions to tackle agrifood challenges. Young students from Minas Avetisyan School of Fine Arts painted expressions of what food security means to them, and the Agrifood Production Fair offered the opportunity to explore local agricultural products and innovations.

Azerbaijan

As part of the “Green Network” environmental awareness programme established by the Republican Children and Youth Development Centre, a special event was held in collaboration with student eco clubs operating within schools in Baku. FAO distributed activity books, FAO-branded bags and posters to students, providing them with key facts about food systems.

Georgia

The agromarket “Unique Georgian Taste” took place in Imereti, Kutaisi. The event was opened with speeches from Raimund Jehle, FAO representative in Georgia, and Tengiz Nasaridze, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. Farmers from throughout Georgia offered traditional and niche food products. There was a food court and two tents for children, where kids were given eight different comics about food safety. An informative Food Loss and Waste installation was assembled to raise awareness of that issue, and FAO named Lali Turabelidze, a honey producer from Imereti Region, a FAO Food Hero.  

Hungary – Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia

The event began in the café with a speech by the Assistant Director-General of FAO, Viorel Gutu, highlighting the right of everyone to the diversity of diet necessary for a healthy and active life. He also gave a tribute to an important guest, Peter Vandor, the Hungarian former permanent representative to FAO, who created the idea of a World Food Day 30 years ago in 1994. The Nineteenth Hungarian Food Bank food truck convoy, made up of more than 20 companies, carried donations to Hungarian families.

As in other years, the popular and prestigious Hungarian Agriculture Magazine Magyar Mezőgazdaság (Hungarian Agriculture) dedicated a special issue to World Food Day.

At the annual Spar Marathon in Budapest, FAO personnel wore FAO-branded T-shirts to elevate the Organization’s visibility and promote healthy, active lifestyles. FAO flags flew along the historic Margit bridge, and at the Liszt Ferenc airport in Budapest, World Food Day visuals were displayed on the electronic screens as part of a pro bono contribution by the airport.

Kazakhstan

At the Agrarian University in Astana, FAO organized a guest lecture on the topic of healthy eating habits. FAO also organized student debates at Narikbayev University on the theme of healthy nutrition, with winners awarded FAO-branded merchandise. FAO Kazakhstan hosted a public school workshop at which a chef demonstrated how to prepare recipes for healthy dishes.

Kyrgyzstan

In the village of Bozhum, the “Agrofest” harvest celebration was held, with farmers from Batken, in Kyrgyzstan’s southern region, and agricultural experts sharing their experiences on ways and approaches to reduce climate risks, increase women’s contribution to sustainable agriculture, improve social and economic conditions, and prevent conflicts over resources.

An exhibition organized by FAO, the World Food Programme and the Kyrgyz National Agrarian University in Bishkek highlighted innovations in agriculture, modern agricultural technologies and scientific developments from the university. Five teams of university students participated in a quiz on the topic of food security.

WFD banners were placed on LED screens on the streets of the city and in the lounges at Manas International Airport. Thematic lessons were held in the city’s schools, with second and third graders taught about good nutrition and FAO's work.

Montenegro

A food fair brought together more than 25 organic food and traditional food producers and vendors. FAO and country officials spoke at the event, which included traditional folklore dance and music performances and a demonstration of food preparation with fresh ingredients by a skilled local chef. For younger visitors, special animations and games were organized to help children learn about healthy food in a fun and interactive way.

Students and teachers held thematic discussions and lectures on the topics of the right and access to nutritious, diverse and safe food, and other interactive activities included food preparation and the creation of artwork.

North Macedonia 

Nabil Gangi, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, gave an interview to the Agrar TV programme, which focuses on agriculture in the country. Gangi cited specific examples of FAO’s work in North Macedonia to realize the right to foods and to ensure food security. The segment was broadcast on 13 October and is on the United Nations North Macedonia YouTube channel.

An event was held at the poultry farm of Macedonian farmer Toni Dimevski in the village of Ognjanci, near Skopje, to highlight the vital contribution of smallholder farmers in ensuring the right to food for a better life and future. Over 50 participants attended. The event included dignitary speeches and a farm-to-table experience featuring freshly cooked poultry and vegetables, offering participants a chance to enjoy local, sustainable food.

Liaison Office for the Russian Federation (Moscow)

The FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation held two major events to celebrate the World Food Day 2024. A press conference was held with FAO and Russian Federation officials, and the event “Healthy Food for All: Market Trends Impacting Diets for Youth in Russia” took place at the United Nations House in Moscow, with participants discussing the latest trends in healthy diets. The event brought together young people, experts and industry leaders to explore the intersection of youth nutrition and food market trends, focusing on how to leverage these trends for better health and economic outcomes in the Russian Federation.

Republic of Moldova

A youth action campaign featured a poster contest at educational institutions and youth centres, and a round-table discussion – held in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the Technical University of Moldova – brought together experts from government, academia and civil society to share their insights, experiences and recommendations on how to improve food systems, promote sustainable agriculture and ensure access to nutritious food for all.

Tajikistan

An academic conference was convened at the Agrarian University on World Food Day. At the Bactria Forum on 17 October, Aghasi Harutyunyan gave welcome remarks and an FAO presentation. In collaboration with WFP, FAO organized a public event at the Botanical Garden.

Türkiye and the Subregional Office for Central Asia

In celebration of World Food Day, FAO launched the report State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024, jointly prepared by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO.

An event titled “Women: The Hidden Heroes of Agriculture” was held in collaboration with the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality. 

On 16 October, World Food Day plaques were presented in recognition of the efforts of those advocating for the right to food and contributing to the establishment of a nutritious world where food security is ensured for all.

The Atakule tower displayed a digital message in support of World Food Day, and other messages were displayed in İstanbul. Visuals and messages also were published on the digital and LED screens of provincial directorates belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, as well as on their social media accounts.

FAO and Özyeğin University in Istanbul held two separate events for young people, including a seminar on the right to food and a cookery workshop and tasting session titled “Local Flavours for Food Rights” led by women’s cooperative members. A poster design competition aimed at raising awareness about the right to food and providing a platform for youth to propose sustainable solutions.

The annual World Food Day Horse Race took place on 19 October. The race is a traditional event in Türkiye; each year, the Jockey Club of Türkiye dedicates one of its races to World Food Day to raise awareness of key issues related to food and hunger. 

At the end of the month, on 31 October, the Agricultural Strategy and Policy Development Centre (TARPOL) will hold a panel discussion by key representatives from the agricultural sector on the theme of right to foods.

Ukraine

FAO Ukraine focused its efforts on online engagement through a series of daily posts highlighting local products and healthy recipes alongside recommendations on how we can improve the access to quality nutrition. FAO collaborated with Ukrainian chef Olha Riabenko, who shared a recipe featuring local products, emphasizing the value of buying fresh produce from local markets.

Uzbekistan 

Using a kids’ activity book as a tool, FAO held open classes in schools and kindergartens in Karakalpakstan to celebrate and raise awareness about the right to foods. 

The festival’s main activities were interactive competitions and workshops at which participants showcased their knowledge, creativity and resourcefulness in nutrition and food security. A competition was held to create models of community gardens, and children entered a painting contest on the theme of envisioning nutritious food. A photo exhibition by renowned Austrian photographer Klaus Pichler titled “Grown for the Bin” set the tone for the festival.

Conclusion

FAO is the lead agency for World Food Day, but as these events show, it is a day that belongs to all and should give hope to all. World Food Day messages inspire people and get them thinking about the theme of the day: Everyone deserves the dignity of enough affordable, nutritious and varied foods.

And now, onto World Food Day 2025! 

The countdown to 80 has begun. On 16 October 2025, FAO will celebrate its eightieth anniversary. This will be an occasion to celebrate FAO’s accomplishments and broadcast a dream and a vision for a better future.

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