In his Message on World Food Day, Wednesday 16th October the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres calls for action to overcome this “challenging moment for global food security,” produced by the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, environmental degradation, the climate crisis and deepening inequality. He cites increases in the number of people affected by hunger and those living in famine conditions, and notes that 3 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet.
World Food Day 2022 is being marked in a year with multiple global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, climate change, rising prices and international tensions. All of this is affecting global food security.
“ But we can reverse all these trends, if we act together,” he says, and he appeals to governments, scientists, the private sector and civil society to work together to make nutritious diets available and affordable for all, and to financial institutions to support developing countries to invest in food systems. “On World Food Day and every day, I call on you to be part of the change.”
COMMENTS