By Dr Meghna Sarma
World Food Day, an initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, is observed each year on October 16. It serves as a global call to action, raising awareness and mobilizing efforts to combat hunger and promote access to healthy diets for all. Despite progress, nearly 1 in 10 people worldwide remain undernourished, and more than 3 billion cannot afford a nutritious diet highlighting the urgent need for collective action.
Food is more than just sustenance; it’s a powerful thread that connects us to our identities, our communities, and the planet we share. Across cultures and continents, food holds deep significance, representing far more than a basic human need. World Food Day, observed annually, serves as a poignant reminder of this connection. It unites governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals in a global effort to raise awareness and drive action all with a shared goal: to make sustainable, nutritious food accessible to all. Together, we acknowledge the vital role food plays in our lives and embrace our collective responsibility to protect this right for future generations.
According to the FAO, nearly 1 in 10 people worldwide are undernourished, and more than 3 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. Even more concerning, over 200 million children under the age of five are affected by malnutrition either underweight or overweight. Yet, in sharp contrast, one-third of all food produced globally is wasted enough to feed 2 billion people. This stark imbalance highlights the urgent need for systemic change.
In addition to the lack of access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food, the ongoing impacts of the “3 Cs”- climate change, COVID-19, and conflict have severely weakened both national and local food systems. Rising temperatures, escalating prices, and international tensions have all contributed to a state of global food insecurity. This crisis affects people worldwide, but the situation is particularly dire for children, youth, and women, who represent the largest segments of the global population and are at heightened risk of acute hunger.
The theme for World Food Day 2025 is “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”, highlighting the vital importance of global collaboration and collective action among governments, organizations, communities, and individuals. This year’s theme calls for a united effort to transform food systems, promote peace and sustainability, and build a food-secure future for all. At its core, World Food Day 2025 advocates for universal access to healthy, nutritious diets, leaving no one behind.
By focusing on improved food production, enhanced nutrition, healthier living environments, and overall better quality of life, we can transform our local and global agri-food systems. Implementing holistic, sustainable practices and systems thinking approaches will promote long-term development, inclusive economic growth, and increased resilience for all.That is why World Food Day plays an essential role to draw attention to this food crisis which is also a climate and health crisis and by doing so, it will intent to foster the food security and availability of nutritious food to everyone on the planet. It is a reminder and hope that hunger can be eradicated.
The United Nations has established the goal of ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition through the promotion of sustainable agriculture as the second of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. With only a few years left until the deadline, the world is currently off track to meet the targets for hunger and malnutrition.
By learning about these issues and taking meaningful action, we can help build a world where everyone has enough to eat. World Food Day also serves as a reminder to those of us with daily access to food to value it, consume it mindfully, and reduce waste honouring the resources, people and systems that make every meal possible.
Solet’s come together to recognize the importance of food security and advocate for lasting solutions that can ensure a hunger-free future for people around the world.
(The writer works at ICAR, KVK, Ri-Bhoi, ICAR Complex for NEH Region. She can be reached at meghnasarma@gmail.com)
