Bipartisan and Bicameral World Food Day Resolutions Call for Action Against World Hunger
Washington, DC – Members of the U.S. Senate and House joined together to commemorate World Food Day and to highlight the urgent need to address food insecurity. Each chamber introduced resolutions to recognize the United Nations international day.
The 2023-2024 World Food Day Congressional resolutions call for the people of the United States to spread awareness and encourage action for all who suffer from hunger, promote healthy diets, and build better agri-food systems.
From the U.S. Senate
The Senate World Food Day resolution (S.Res.397) officially designates October 16, 2023, and 2024 as 'World Food Day'. The two-year resolution was introduced by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Boozman (R-AR), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
“At a time when climate change, conflict, and economic volatility affect food systems globally, it is crucial that the United States reaffirms our commitment to fighting food insecurity,” said Senator Coons. “In addition to providing life-saving food assistance, we must also work to build a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive global agri-food system that protects vulnerable people at home and abroad.”
“Malnutrition and food insecurity impact millions in the U.S. and around the world, representing not only a threat to individuals but also to global stability,” said Boozman, the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “America’s farmers and ranchers, as well as countless humanitarian organizations, work incredibly hard to close the gap and make our international leadership in combating hunger possible. World Food Day serves as a reminder to us and our allies that we must be united in this cause and double-down on efforts to make our food supply more resilient and robust.”
“It is unacceptable that anyone should experience hunger,” said Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “The climate crisis, armed conflicts, and the residual economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have increased the urgency to address the hunger crisis that has touched so many families worldwide. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we continue to invest in resilient and sustainable food systems.”
“The most fundamental human need we can meet is providing food for the hungry,” said Moran. “The war in Ukraine highlighted the ongoing global hunger crisis and reinvigorated our responsibility to provide greater food security both at home and around the world. The call to feed the world has been answered by many Kansans, who are taught at a young age that it is our duty to help those in need. As the co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, I believe that combatting hunger is not only the morally right thing to do; it is also the smart thing to do both for Kansas producers and for global security.”
From the U.S. House of Representatives
In the House, U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Maria Elvia Salazar (R-FL) introduced their version of the World Food Day resolution. The resolution was also co-sponsored by Representatives Shontel Brown (D-OH), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-DE).
“For far too many families in Maine, across the country, and across the world, simply putting enough food on the table is a challenge. With hunger and malnutrition rates on the rise, World Food Day gives us an opportunity to raise awareness to this global issue and inspire action for the future of our planet and food system,” said Pingree, co-chair of the House Food Recovery Caucus. “I’m proud to once again introduce this bipartisan resolution to designate October 16th as World Food Day and reaffirm our commitment to increasing access to healthy food, reducing food waste, and acknowledging the scale of the hunger crisis. The United States has a critical role in the global fight against hunger and I hope this resolution will inspire my colleagues in Congress to support programs and policies that strengthen food security around the globe.”
“This resolution reaffirms that America must lead the world in the struggle against hunger and malnutrition,” said McGovern. “We live in a world of plenty where it is possible for us to grow plenty of healthy food for everyone. Yet close to a billion people around the world are impacted by hunger. Programs like the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition program, Feed the Future, Food for Peace, the Maternal and Child Nutrition Program, Food for Progress, and our own hunger safety net here at home are key to ending hunger. Now is the time to redouble our efforts to find new, innovative ways to solve this problem. Food is a fundamental human right for all people, and we have a moral obligation to act.”
“No one should go hungry in today’s world,” said Salazar. “Unfortunately, hundreds of millions of people suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition. The ability to feed one’s family is essential to human dignity, and hunger increases the chance of conflict if it is not addressed. I am proud to co-lead the World Food Day resolution to advance the fight against global hunger.”
U.S. Commitment to Addressing Hunger and Malnutrition
In 2022, the prevalence of global hunger and undernourishment remained far above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Over 2 billion people experienced moderate to severe food insecurity, with women and children living in rural areas suffering disproportionately the effects of hunger and malnutrition. Additionally, more than 40 percent of the global population was unable to afford a healthy diet. The World Food Day resolution is both a recognition of these coinciding issues and a call-to-action to continue the important work of building more resilient, inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems.
Each year, the United States joins the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in recognizing World Food Day and thereby affirming mutual commitment to addressing hunger, malnutrition, and establishing sustainable agri-food systems.
World Food Day 2023This year’s World Food Day theme - “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.”–highlights the criticality of water to enhance global food security. By focusing on water, FAO is highlighting the need for multisectoral action to produce more food and other essential agricultural commodities with less water, while ensuring water is distributed equally, our aquatic food systems are preserved, and nobody is left behind. FAO is underscoring the need for governments to design science and evidence-based policies that capitalize on data, innovation and cross-sectoral coordination to better plan and manage water. Further, there is a need to support these policies with increased investment, legislation, technologies, and capacity development. Simultaneously, we must incentivize farmers and the private sector to engage in integrated solutions which foster a more efficient use of water, and supportwater conservation.
“FAO appreciates our long-standing partnership with the United States of America and its commitment to FAO’s mandate of building efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all, leaving no one behind,” said Jocelyn Brown Hall, Director of the FAO North America liaison office. “Particularly at this time when alarming levels of food insecurity underscore the need for sustained investment in the agricultural sector and rural communities.”
Water is a driving force for people, economies and nature and the very foundation of our food systems. However, like all natural resources, fresh water is not infinite. Rapid population growth, urbanization, economic development, and climate change are putting the planet’s water resources under increasing stress. At the same time, freshwater resources per person have declined 20% in the past decades.Water availability and quality are deteriorating rapidly due to decades of poor use and management, over-extraction of groundwater, pollution and climate change. We risk stretching this precious resource to a point of no return.
World Food Day marks the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on 16 October 1945 in Quebec, Canada.
The United States is a world leader in the development of agricultural innovation and technology, aimed at enhancing production, safety, and quality of the world’s food supply.The United States continues to be among the most significant voluntary contributors to FAO. In 2022, the U.S. government provided FAO with a record-breaking $448 million in voluntary contributions, most of which was directed towards emergency-related activities.