Celebrate World Food Day 2021

“Our actions are our future- Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.” This is the theme for World Food Day 2021. The food we choose and the way we consume it affect our health and that of our planet. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations observed: “There is an encouraging new momentum and energy building as we strive to overhaul the ways in which our food is produced, stored, distributed and consumed. We have started confronting the problems and making the structures fit for purpose.”

World Food Day is observed in Florida and globally every year on October 16th. The day is of immense importance as it caters to one of the basic human needs. Every person in this globe should take a conviction to eradicate hunger by showing a helping hand. It is aptly said that instead of raising our compounds because of security, we should instead open our doors to hungry people. Hunger is one of the significant causes of death every year. There are so many lives who can’t afford even a single square meal every day.

The United Nations set up the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in the year 1945. The main objective behind this organization’s establishment was to attack hunger and eradicate the bane of hunger from the global population. FAO conducts annual general conferences where all the member nations signed up under FAO participate and pass resolutions. At the 20th annual conference held by FAO in 1979, member nations passed a new resolution to celebrate World Food Day in November of 1979.

The celebrations did not begin immediately after that. In the year 1980, a big decision was taken to implement the World Food Day action plan. Finally, on October 16th, 1981, the first World Food Day was celebrated, and from then on, the day is being celebrated across the world annually. International agencies, national establishments, local organizations, and governments were called forth to actively participate and contribute to making the program a grand success.

The World Food Day website provides many ways to act including:

• Selecting a healthy, diverse diet: A healthy diet contributes to a healthy life. When we choose to eat diverse foods, we encourage a variety of foods to be produced. This is not only healthier for our bodies but also healthier for soils and our environment.

• Choosing local: Whenever you can, support small farmers in your community by buying locally grown, fresh food.
• Choosing seasonal: Buying in-season produce reduces your carbon footprint. Out-of-season food must be imported and travel a long way before it arrives at your local market.
• Growing food at home: If you have a green space at home, access to a garden, or a balcony with space for plant pots, you can learn how to grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
• Respecting food: To reduce food loss and waste, learning how to store uneaten food properly for use as another day's meal.
• Supporting food-related businesses and retailers: Doing this can make healthy food options more enticing, available, and accessible. It also helps provide employment opportunities.
• Fighting local hunger by volunteering: Look for opportunities at your local food pantry or community kitchen.
• Donating to your local food pantry: Most food banks keep a list of items that clients need, and others accept personal care and household items, which aren't covered by food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP.

Reed Markham, Associate Professor School of World Languages and Speech, Daytona State College