This year’s World Food Week starting on 15 October takes place in a global context where conflict, climate extremes and an increase in obesity are reversing progress made in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. A series of events including World Food Day on 16 October will explore the actions needed to put achieving Zero Hunger back on track. World Food Day is marked each year on 16 October to commemorate the founding of FAO in 1945.
- Launch of the State of Food and Agriculture report 2018
Monday, 15 October at 13.00, Sheikh Zayed Centre, FAO
This year’s edition explores how migration is linked to food security, agriculture and rural development. The report will be presented at a press conference with FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and Assistant Director-General for Economic and Social Development Kostas Stamoulis.
- The opening of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
Monday, 15 October at 10.00, Plenary Hall, FAO
The CFS is the leading international platform for policy coherence and convergence on food security and nutrition. CFS sessions (15-19 October) include improving food systems and nutrition, and the Right to Food Guidelines. The opening ceremony will include speeches by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and the CFS Chair Mario Arvelo. Accredited journalists can also attend over 50 side-events including the launch of the World Livestock Report (17 October).
- World Food Day
Tuesday, 16 October at 09.30, Plenary Hall, FAO
The theme for World Food Day 2018 is “Our actions are our future. A #ZeroHunger world by 2030 is possible”, and events to mark the day are being held in over 130 countries. At the global ceremony at FAO, King Letsie III of Lesotho and Queen Letizia of Spain, FAO Special Goodwill Ambassadors for Nutrition, will be the keynote speakers. Other speakers include FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President Gilbert F. Houngbo and World Food Programme Executive Director David M. Beasley as well as messages from Pope Francis and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
FAO is also hosting two high-level panels on World Food Day that focus on achieving Zero Hunger:
- Presenting the challenges faced in achieving Zero Hunger 11:00-13:00, Plenary Hall.
- Bringing people to the centre of solutions for the planet 15.00-17.00, Plenary Hall
Original source: FAO
Published on 12 October 2018
