World Food Day 2016 focuses on climate change and sustainable agriculture

"Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too" is the theme of World Food Day 2016. The day - which this year falls on Sunday, 16 October - will be observed during events and ceremonies taking place in over 150 countries around the globe, making it one of the most celebrated events on the UN calendar.Several key World Food Day events in Rome will shine a spotlight on the critical links between our planet's changing climate change, humanity's food security, and the future of sustainable development.

Details on Rome World Food day observances and related events follow; all will be webcast.
 
World Food Day Ceremony
Friday 14 October, 10.00-11.30 CEST | Plenary Hall, FAO
Speakers include:
·      Matteo Renzi, Prime Minister of Italy
·      Princess Lalla Hasnaa of Morocco
·      José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General
·      Macharia Kamau, UN Special Envoy on El Niño and Climate
·      Kanayo Nwanze, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
·      Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)
A special message on food security from Pope Francis will be delivered at the ceremony.

Mayors' Summit
Friday 14 October, 14.30-17:35 CEST | Green Room, FAO
Mayors and senior officials from more than 45 cities including Abidjan, Madrid, Mexico City and Shanghai will attend a Mayors' Summit in Rome. There they will discuss progress made in meeting the goals of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact. Launched in 2015, the pact calls on cities to develop more sustainable and equitable food systems, end urban hunger, promote healthy diets, reduce waste and conserve biodiversity while adapting to climate change and mitigating its effects.
Speakers include:
·      Maurizio Martina, Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, Italy
·      Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan
·      José Graziano da Silva, Director-General FAO
 
News conference: State of Food and Agriculture 2016 report
Monday 17 October, 12.30 CEST | Sheik Zaye Centre, FAO
This year's The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) report provides evidence on how agriculture - including crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries - can contribute to stabilizing the global climate while still raising food output to eradicate hunger. Agriculture is responsible for up to a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions making the sector an essential component in the international effort to address climate change. The report also documents how the costs of inaction are much greater than the cost of needed interventions.
Featuring:
·      José Graziano da Silva, Director-General FAO
·      Kostas Stamoulis, FAO-Assistant Director-General, Hunger Eradication, Food Security, and Nutrition
 
Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
Opening ceremony 17 October, 10:00 CEST | CFS runs through 21 October in Plenary Hall and other venues at FAO
The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) is a leading inclusive international platform for all stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all.   This year's CFS session is set to endorse a set of policy recommendations on sustainable agricultural development, including livestock and on smallholder's access to markets.  There will also be several panel discussions during the week including on sustainable value chains, experience in using the CFS guidelines on governance of tenure, rural-urban transformation and the review and follow up of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speakers at the CFS opening ceremony (Plenary) include:
·      José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, FAO
·      Amira Gornass, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Sudan to FAO and CFS chairperson
·      Kanayo Nwanze, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
·      Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, World Food Programme