The theme "Change the future of migration. Invest in food security and rural development" underlined the need to address root causes of migration such as poverty, food insecurity, inequality, unemployment and a lack of social safety nets. It promoted rural development as a valid solution to the migration challenge with the potential to generate decent employment opportunities, bolster the resilience of rural communities and curb conflict.
Pope Francis called on governments around the world to collaborate to make migration a safer and voluntary choice at the global ceremony held at FAO's headquarters in Rome. The Holy Father was joined by the Group of Seven (G7) Ministers of Agriculture, whose presence was testament to the important links between food security, rural development and migration.
In Syria, amid burned fields and not far from the rubble of destroyed buildings, the Minister of Agriculture and the FAO Representative joined hands with local farmers to plant pear and apple trees, marking the resumption of food production activities despite social and economic disruption.
Nobel Prize laureates Betty Williams and Tawakkol Karma discussed migration and explored the strong link between peace and food security at the Pathways to peace conference in Bogota organized by FAO and the Colombian government.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, farming tools and vegetable seeds were distributed by FAO and the government to internally displaced people forced out of their homes by armed conflict.
In the Philippines, representatives of the Department of Agriculture and its attached agencies lit candles in a pledge to end hunger and malnutrition, strengthen cooperation and make agriculture more productive and sustainable.
Elsewhere, people gathered at a wide range of events such as marathons, marches, exhibitions, concerts, contests, markets, roundtables, and public lectures.
Cities around the world added their voices to the global call for action on migration and Sustainable Development Goal 2 - Zero Hunger. Geneva, Milan, Mexico City, Jakarta, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, London, Madrid and Paris promoted World Food Day messages on public transport and key locations in the city centre. In Valencia, mayors and representatives of more than 150 cities marked World Food Day at the third annual meeting of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, the first international protocol by cities aimed at combating hunger and food waste and improving nutrition.
Together with some 200 other celebrations around the world, these events launched a call for action to make migration a choice and to achieve Zero Hunger.
Next year, FAO will continue to advocate for solutions that make migration safe, humane, orderly and regular as co-chair of the Global Migration Group (GMG), composed of 22 UN agencies and the World Bank.
