Agri-food systems can and should be the source of sufficient, healthy food for all the world’s people. World Food Day: Everyone has the right to good food Sustainable Development Goals
The world produces enough food to feed more people than the entire planet’s population. However, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 733 million people worldwide suffer from hunger. World Food Day, celebrated on October 16, aims to raise awareness of hunger and catalyze action to transform food systems.
Transforming Food Systems
Today, many of the ways we produce, package, transport, and consume food are damaging the planet and exacerbating the climate crisis. Food production consumes 70 percent of fresh water and is responsible for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions. Almost a third of all food produced is lost or wasted.
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The main causes of hunger, malnutrition and lack of access to healthy and nutritious food are poverty, social inequality, high food prices, armed conflicts and natural disasters, including those related to climate change.
In today’s world of abundance, people continue to die of hunger. To stop this and ensure that everyone has access to healthy food, we need to improve food systems, which means rethinking the way we produce food.
“Making food systems more efficient, inclusive, sustainable and resilient requires a major transformation involving business, academia, research institutions and civil society,” the UN Secretary-General said in his message on World Food Day.
Agri-food systems can and must be a source of sufficient healthy food for all people around the world. This requires increased investment and support for innovation, research and collaboration.
“On this World Food Day, let us step up the fight against hunger and malnutrition,” the UN chief urged. “Let us take action to protect the right to food for a better life and a better future.”
Farmer School
Each year, ahead of World Food Day, FAO selects “heroes of the food front” – professionals and agricultural enthusiasts who have achieved outstanding results.
This year, they include Jazgul Tolomusheva from Kyrgyzstan, who offered her farm as a learning platform for one of the farmer field schools being organized as part of a joint government-FAO project.
Jazgul’s plot is now used for classes, covering topics ranging from animal health to rangeland management. The main lecturers are specialists, but local residents are also invited to share their experiences.
“Even those who have been working in the same field for many years can always learn something useful from others,” said Zhazgul.
Training at the farmer field schools that have been held in her village since 2023 gave her new skills and self-confidence. As a result, in less than a year, her animals began to produce almost twice as much meat and milk.
“The school helped me understand what I am already good at and formulate new goals for myself,” said Zhazgul. Her knowledge of climate-smart livestock farming has helped her increase the farm’s productivity and profitability. The modernized farm now serves as an example for others.
“It’s cool to be a pioneer,” jokes Zhazgul, who not only farms livestock but also raises seven children.