World Food Day: October 16, 2021

October 08, 2021

More than 850 million people around the world are deprived of food. It is a sad, but true reality for far too many. “World Food Day” (WFD), aims to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and to increase solidarity in the battle against hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. This year’s theme, “The Right to Food” highlights the strengthened recognition by the international community of the importance of human rights in eradicating hunger and poverty, as well as accelerating the development process. Canada’s Government also recognizes that reducing hunger and malnutrition is a prerequisite for long-term development and is doing its part to address the problem of world hunger.

World Food Day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) Member Countries at the organization’s Twentieth General Conference in November 1979. The date chosen for the day, October 16th, is also the anniversary of the FAO.

When World Food Day was created it had the goal that “food for all” should become a human right for present and future generations. It also had the objectives of:

• heightening public awareness of the problem of world hunger;
• bringing attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral, and non-governmental efforts to this end;
• promoting the transfer of technologies to the Third World;
• strengthening international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development;
• to encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women, and the least privileged categories, in decisions and activities influencing their living conditions;
• encouraging economic and technical cooperation among developing countries.
  

World Food Days are carried out at local, national, regional, and international levels. Priority is given to activities in rural areas at the national and local levels. Activities for World Food Day can include:

• agricultural fairs, exhibitions, visits to farms and/or farmers’ markets, to show the programmes carried out in the agricultural sector;
• round tables, workshops, and symposia on the WFD theme, reflecting national realities and problems;
• distribution of food, money, or agricultural inputs to needy persons and groups;
• initiation of new field projects related to food self-sufficiency; and
• organization of activities on the WFD theme by National Committees with the active participation of NGO’s, as well as of peoples and farmers’ organizations
  

Our Government is seriously concerned about the millions of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition globally as a result of conflicts, natural disasters, and chronic poverty. Our Government also recognizes that the reduction of hunger and poverty is a prerequisite for long-term development. Canada provides significant funding for both proactive and emergency food aid to the developing world through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Canadian funding for food aid is provided through two primary channels: the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB). In July 2007, our Government announced that it would be giving $110 million over the next five years to reduce hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

In July 2007, our Government also announced that Canada will provide $125 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) over the next five years for food programs for children in African schools. The money will be used to purchase, deliver, and distribute food products to school children in Africa. The programs will offer nutritious meals in African schools that will make a difference in the health and well-being of the students. The programs will also encourage parents to send their children to school.

Our Government is committed to tackling the problem of world hunger and to increase awareness of it. Through our efforts, more children have been enrolled in schools across Africa and more food aid has reached the suffering in emergency and chronic hunger situations worldwide.