World Food Day — 16 October
#WorldFoodDay #FoodForAll
Today, 16 October, over 150 countries unite to mark World Food Day — a day to raise awareness of poverty, hunger, and our collective responsibility to ensure food for all.
According to World Hunger Statistics, 785 million people across the globe do not have enough food to sustain a healthy lifestyle — about one in nine people in the world. The majority live in developing countries. Poor nutrition causes 45% of deaths in children under five — over 3 million children a year die because they lack access to nutritious food.
World hunger is complex, but it is solvable. Solutions include helping people produce food sustainably, giving farmers access to credit and land, investing in education, supporting hunger relief organizations, and stopping food waste. The most wasted foods — vegetables, cereals and starchy roots — are often lost during production and post-harvest storage. Wasting less means feeding more.
This day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at its 20th General Conference in 1979, with 16 October chosen to commemorate FAO's founding anniversary. Since 1981, each year has carried a theme — from _"Family Farming: Feeding the world, caring for the earth"_ to _"Our Actions Are Our Future: Healthy Diets for a #ZEROHUNGER World"_ — reminding us that climate, agriculture and hunger are linked.
At WAELE AFRICA Foundation, we know who feeds Africa: women.
Rural women are the backbone of our food systems — they plant, harvest, store, process and feed families. Yet they have the least access to finance, land, improved seeds and markets. When we empower a woman farmer, we reduce hunger, improve nutrition and build resilience.
Today we call for action to:
Support women smallholder farmers with credit, technology and training
Reduce food loss and waste from farm to table
Promote climate-smart agriculture
Ensure every child and family has access to healthy, nutritious food
A world without hunger is possible — if we act together.
To every woman feeding her family, community and nation: thank you. Your hands feed the world.
Happy World Food Day!
#ZeroHunger #WAELEAFRICA
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