World Food Day 2022: “Leave NO ONE Behind”

Highlights:

The Food and Agriculture Organization designated 16 October as World Food Day
Highlights the plight of people who cannot afford a regular nutritious meal globally
In the pandemic era, sustainable holistic global solutions are needed more than ever

World Food Day is celebrated annually on 16 October to promote global awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and to highlight the need to ensure healthy diets for all.

The day is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) OF THE United Nations in 1945. Many other organizations concerned with food security such as the World Food Programme, International Fund for Agricultural Development also celebrate the day ().

The day is marked not only to celebrate the amazing food that we get to eat every day but to also spread awareness about those who struggle to get even one meal in a day.

Malnutrition - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
Malnutrition refers to imbalances in a person’s intake of energy or nutrients and can occur due to an excess consumption of nutrients or a lack of nutrients.

‘World Food Day is celebrated annually on 16 October and promotes global awareness and action to ensure healthy diets for all.’

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Why World Food Day Is Important?

The world today faces two major problems. One is the issue of providing a healthy diet which affects both the rich and the poor causing lifestyle issues such as obesity, and diabetes. On the other hand, there is the issue of hunger which leads to malnutrition, death, and abnormal growth in children.

Despite so much economic growth, the world is still grappling with high levels of poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition. In the last two decades, the income gap between the rich and the poor has increased. The COVID-19 pandemic is only going to make the situation worse.

Child Nutrition Indicators Improve but Malnutrition Worsens: NFHS-5 Report
National Family Health Survey–5 findings indicates that the levels of stunting, wasting &underweight has improved however malnourished children numbers continue to be high.

Worldwide Hunger Facts You Need to Know

Up to 811 million people about 10% of the world’s population regularly go to bed hungry
More than 48 million people are facing emergency levels of hunger, with the threat of acute malnutrition, starvation, and death, according to the World Food Programme (WFP)
Out of 55 countries with food crises, 36 depended on Ukrainian and Russian exports for more than 10% of their wheat imports in 2021
In 2021, nearly 70% of people facing crisis levels of hunger were living in 10 countries
Over 45 million children are affected by wasting, the most visible, severe, and potentially life-threatening form of malnutrition
Globally, 1 in 5 deaths among children under 5 is attributed to severe wasting, also known as severe acute malnutrition. More than 1 million children die each year from severe wasting

Poor Dental Health, Poverty Contribute to Malnutrition in Hospitalized Older Adults
Malnourished older patients identified in the emergency department often have dental problems and are below poverty line.

World Needs Better Way to Deal with Hunger

Although we have made progress toward building a better world, too many people have been left behind. People who are unable to benefit from human development, innovation, or economic growth.

Millions of people around the world cannot afford a healthy diet, putting them at high risk of food insecurity and malnutrition. But ending hunger isn’t only about supply. Enough food is produced today to feed everyone on the planet.

The problem is access and availability of nutritious food, which is increasingly impeded by multiple challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, climate change, inequality, rising prices, and international tensions. People around the world are suffering the domino effects of challenges that know no borders ().

Enough Food for All in the World if We Eat Right
We can feed the world if we change our ways, a new study at Lancaster University finds. But, if society continues on a ‘business-as-usual’ dietary trajectory, a 119 percent increase in edible crops grown will be required by 2050.

Leave No one behind

Our globalized world is one where our economies, cultures, and populations are becoming increasingly interconnected. Some of us are vulnerable because of who we are or where we live, but the reality is that we are all fragile. When someone is left behind, a chain is broken. This impacts not only the life of that person but also ours.

Hence, the World food day 2022 theme of leaving no one behind highlights the need for global solutions more than ever, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

By aiming for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, we can transform agrifood systems and build forward better by implementing sustainable and holistic solutions that consider development in the long term, inclusive economic growth, and greater resilience ().

Act Together Against Hunger in the Future

A sustainable world is one where everyone counts. Governments, the private sector, academia, civil society, and individuals need to work together in solidarity to prioritize the right of all people to food, nutrition, peace, and equality. Indeed, every one of us, including youth, can work towards an inclusive and sustainable future, showing greater empathy and kindness in our actions. We must all be the change.

References:

Better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. - (https://www.fao.org/world-food-day/about/en)
Conflict, COVID, the climate crisis and rising costs have combined in 2022 to create jeopardy for up to 828 million hungry people across the world - (https://www.wfp.org/global-hunger-crisis)
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture - (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal2)

Source-Medindia