World Food Day – 16 October
World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16th October to mark the formation of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations is a specialized organization that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
The first session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Conference was held on 16th October 1945. It is an intergovernmental organization present in over 130 countries. World Food Day was established by the member countries of AFO (Food and Agriculture Organization) in November 1979 at the organization’s 20th General Conference. Dr. Pal Romani, a member of the Hungarian delegation and the then Minister of Agriculture and Food, was instrumental in the 20th General Conference of the AFO and proposed the idea of launching the World Food Day-WFD worldwide.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has played an important role in making the initiative World Food Day possible and fulfilling its goal. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ensures food security by developing ways of growing food that will work in the future so that millions of people don’t go hungry. It works with governments and partners to empower some of the world’s most marginalized people to end rural poverty.
The Theme for World Food Day 2024 is “Right to foods for a better life and a better future“.
As a result of globalization and urbanization and income growth, there have been changes in our diet and eating habits. We have moved from seasonal, mainly plant-based, and fiber-rich dishes to diets that are high in refined starches, sugar, fats, salt, processed foods, meat, and other animal-sourced products. Less time is spent preparing meals at home, and consumers, especially in urban areas, increasingly rely on supermarkets, fast food outlets, street food vendors, and takeaway restaurants.
We spend less time preparing food at home rather than we prefer to eat outside food from supermarkets, fast food outlets, street food vendors, and takeaway restaurants. Which have led to unhealthy diets and a rise in obesity due to the sedentary lifestyles we are living in. This unhealthy diet is the main reason for deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain cancers.
World Food Day (World Food Day) is celebrated with great enthusiasm by many other organizations, such as International Fund for Agricultural Development, World Food Program, etc., which are related to matters related to food safety. This day in India shows the importance of agriculture and emphasizes the fact that the food produced and consumed by Indians is safe and healthy. World Food Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm in India.
True lovers of food come together in Delhi and vow to keep food clean and safe. They oppose the introduction of GM (genetically modified) crops in India. People in Delhi celebrate this occasion at the Craft Museum of the Dastekar Fair. They make rangoli and do street nooks on the matter of genetic modification.
World Food Day in India is an occasion through which many non-voluntary organizations highlighted the importance of eating healthy food and avoiding fast food in urban India. Volunteers have also organized street plays demanding public consultation on the BRAI (Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India) bill. This is one of the biggest threats to our food security as it is proposed to promote the introduction of genetically modified crops in India.
Suggested Read: Important Days In October
