World Food Day, observed annually on October 16, is an international commemorative day with the meaning of raising awareness of the severity of global food issues and seeking sustainable food production and equitable distribution. This day was officially designated at the 20th FAO General Conference in 1979 to commemorate the founding date (October 16, 1945) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), established to improve the production and distribution of food and agricultural products and to provide guidance on land and variety improvement technologies.
[World Food Day Ⓟ ESG.ONL/ESG Today]
According to recent FAO reports, as of 2024, the global undernourished population reached approximately 673 million, with the undernourished population in Asia estimated at 323 million. In response, over 150 countries including South Korea practice international cooperation for eradicating hunger, spreading healthy eating habits, and strengthening food security through various events and volunteer activities on World Food Day each year.
The root causes of the food crisis are complex. Climate change, conflict, and economic inequality interlock to threaten the global food system. In particular, extreme droughts and floods caused by abnormal weather, prolonged heatwaves, and irregular precipitation patterns disrupt crop cultivation cycles, destabilizing the yields of major grains. On top of this, regional conflicts including wars restrict grain exports and paralyze supply chains, while rapid price increases and currency devaluation greatly weaken the purchasing power for food in low-income countries. As climate, economic, and political factors act together in this way, international grain prices soar, and the food insecurity of the poor deepens.
Raising awareness of the worsening global food crisis and eliciting cooperation from the international community is the core task of this commemorative day. As the theme of World Food Day 2025 is ‘Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,’ humanity must act together and take one step further toward preparing substantive solutions so that everyone’s right to adequate food can be guaranteed.
by Editor O