-in observance of World Food Day
It is time to turn the right to a healthy, nutritious, and affordable diet into a reality with an emphasis on not just having sufficient food, but also a diversity of diet. This is the view of Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Dr Qu Dongyu, as he addressed the theme for this year’s World Food Day, “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future” which he opined, is a timely reminder that all people have the right to adequate foods.
According to a FAO release recently, the Director General pointed out that when he refers to “Foods” in the plural, it is to emphasise diversity, as well as food availability, food accessibility, and food affordability for all.
He observed that currently, the world’s farmers produce more than enough food to feed the global population in terms of calories, yet around 730 million people are facing hunger due to man-made and natural disasters, including conflict, recurrent weather shocks, inequalities and economic downturns, while billions lack healthy diets.
