World Food Day

World Food Day (WFD) was established by FAO's Member Countries at the Organization's Twentieth General Conference in November 1979. The date chosen - 16 October - is the anniversary of FAO.

It has since been observed every year in more than 150 countries.

WFD provides a reminder of FAO's constant search for a long-term solution to the problem of hunger and poverty in the world. WFD was created with the goal that "food for all" should become a human right for present and future generations.

WFD's objectives are:

· to heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world;

· to encourage attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental efforts to this end;

· to promote the transfer of technologies to the Third World;

· to strengthen 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;

· to encourage economic and technical cooperation among developing countries.

WFD activities are organized mainly by participating countries, with due assistance from FAO. The Unit for Liaison with National Committees (GIDN) at FAO Headquarters assists in the coordination of various programmes under the overall aegis of the General Affairs and Information Department.

WFD activities are carried out at local, national, regional and international levels. FAO Representatives and designated WFD Officers assist National WFD Committees and other participating organizations who decide the activities at the national level. In addition, a ceremony at FAO Headquarters is held on 16 October. Observances are also held by the FAO Regional Offices.

In 1981 and 1982 the various initiatives were carried out under the theme "Food Comes First". Since 1983 an annual theme has been chosen in order to provide a common focus for WFD activities, as follows:

1983 Food Security

1984 Women in Agriculture

1985 Rural Poverty

1986 Fishermen and Fishing Communities

1987 Small Farmers

1988 Rural Youth

1989 Food and the Environment

1990 Food for the Future

1991 Trees for Life

1992 Food and Nutrition

1993 Harvesting Nature's Diversity

1994 Water for Life

1995 Food for All

1996 Fighting Hunger and Malnutrition

1997 Investing in Food Security

1998 Women Feed the World

1999 Youth Against Hunger

2000 A Millennium Free from Hunger

2001 Fight Hunger to Reduce Poverty

2002 Water: Source of Food Security

2003 International Alliance against Hunger

2004 Biodiversity for Food Security

2005 Agriculture and the Intercultural Dialogue

2006 Investing in agriculture for food security

2007 The right to food

2008 World food security: the challenges of climate change and bioenergy

2009 Achieving food security in times of crisis

Stamp catalogue - 1981

Austria 16 October 1981

Bangladesh 31 December 1981

Niger 16 October 1981

Sovereign Military Order of Malta 16 October 1981

Tunisia 16 October 1981

Stamp catalogue - 1982

Tunisia 16 October 1982

Stamp catalogue - 1984

Benin 16 October 1984

Suriname 10 October 1984

Up - Home

last revised: 5 July 2009