Ending hunger is within reach. The world already produces enough food to nourish everyone, yet 673 million people still face hunger, and 2.6 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. As conflict, economic instability and climate shocks put pressure on agrifood systems, the challenge is how to ensure access to reliable, affordable and nutritious food for people everywhere.
Innovation is transforming how food is produced, stored, transported and marketed. It brings together advances in science and technology with the knowledge, experience and ingenuity of farmers, fishers, herders and foresters - including women, youth and Indigenous Peoples – as well as investors, policymakers and entrepreneurs, because transforming our agrifood systems requires collective action.
Innovation in agrifood systems takes many forms. It includes digital advisory services, data and information systems, improved seed varieties and biotechnologies, along with farmer field schools, cooperative models, traditional land and water practices, and new approaches to production, markets, finance and distribution. Innovation can also mean reducing risk before crises emerge; preventive and cross-sectoral approaches can strengthen resilience and avoid far higher costs once shocks take place.
Together, our efforts to foster innovation can build agrifood systems that are more stable, more inclusive and more resilient – capable of nourishing people today while protecting the resources future generations depend on.
Translating innovation into impact demands partnership and investment. Governments play a central role in creating the conditions for success – investing in research, strengthening rural infrastructure and setting policies that expand access to innovation responsibly. The private sector contributes by mobilizing investment, strengthening supply chains and creating jobs and new business models with scalable solutions that reach underserved populations. Partnerships across academic and research institutions, civil society, producer groups, the United Nations System and other development actors, are essential to move solutions from research to action.
Everyday choices matter. By choosing nutritious, diverse diets and reducing food waste, we can help shape a more sustainable agrifood system. At the same time, we can support the protection of soils, water, and biodiversity, and stay informed. Greater awareness of how food is produced and distributed strengthens these choices at the individual, household, community and national levels.
The choices we make every day shape the world we live in.
Collective action across 150 countries worldwide, in up to 50 languages, is what makes World Food Day one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar. Hundreds of events and outreach activities bring together governments, municipalities, businesses, CSOs, the media, the public, even youth. They promote worldwide awareness of hunger and promote action for the future of food, people and the planet.
Together we can create a better, more sustainable food future for all. Make #WorldFoodDay YOUR day. Join the call by organizing an event or activity or show how you are taking action.
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