October 16 marks the 43^rd World Food Day (WFD). To celebrate the WFD, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), China’s National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration (NFSRA) and multiple government departments jointly organized the 2023 WFD and China’s National Food Security Publicity Week Main Event in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. Meanwhile, the FAO China Office launched the WFD Pro-Bono Lighting Campaign across many cities in China, calling on the whole society to attach importance to the WFD and work together to safeguard food security.

The global theme of this year’s WFD is Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind. Water is a driving force for people, the economy and nature as well as a source of food. Agriculture accounts for about 70% of the world’s freshwater use. Today, 2.4 billion people in the world live in water-stressed countries. Rapid population growth, urbanization, economic development and climate change are posing increasing pressure on the earth’s water resources. Per capita freshwater resources have decreased by 20% in the past few decades. Therefore, with the focus on water resources, this year’s WFD appeals to the world to take practical actions to improve the water resources situation.

WFD Main Event in China

On the morning of October 16, FAO together with China’s NFSRA, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, and All-China Women’s Federation co-hosted the 2023 WFD and National Food Security Publicity Week in China on the theme of Practicing the “Greater Food” Approach to Ensure Food Security in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

In his opening remarks, Sheikh Alhaduzzaman, FAO Representative ad interim in China, stressed that “we urgently need to take action to build a water-safe world and continuously transform the agri-food system to be more efficient, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable, thereby bringing better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all”. He expects China’s food industry to become more powerful, upgraded, innovative, and sustainable. “This will not only benefit the Chinese people, but also make a significant contribution to the positive progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” he added.

Liu Huanxin, Administrator for NFSRA, states in his opening remarks that it is necessary to always highlight food security, and reinforce the national food security strategy; implement the policy of sustainable farmland use and innovative application of agricultural technology to increase farmland productivity, and make good use of the water as the “source of life” and the “basis of grain”; consistently improve the monitoring capacity in harvest and storage, strengthen grain law enforcement and supervision, and boost the grain market and circulation. He emphasizes that “we shall aim to satisfy people's expectations for a better life, adopt an all-encompassing approach to food, optimize the structure of food supply, meet people's increasingly diversified food consumption needs, and raise the general public's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security".

More than 1000 representatives participated in the main event. Publicity activities were held simultaneously in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) across the country.

WFD Pro-Bono Lighting Campaign

To better promote the WFD, the FAO China Office held the WFD Pro-Bono Lighting Campaign in China, inviting all sectors of society to engage and raise public awareness of water conservation and food security.

In Beijing, teachers and students of China Agricultural University displayed the English alphabets “WFD” with dormitory lights. In Shanghai, Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. lit up the Sinar Maz Plaza of the Bund, the tallest building at Puxi, by demonstrating the Chinese characters “世界粮食日 (WFD)”. In Guangzhou, Guangfa Securities Headquarters Building lit up with the Chinese characters “世界粮食日 (WFD)”. In Shenzhen, DJI’s new drone performance made its global debut, with over 1000 drones demonstrating the WFD theme. The video of the WFD drone performance was played at the opening ceromony of the WFD global celebration at the FAO headquarters in Rome. In addition, more than 350 Freshippo groceries stores across 28 cities nationwide joined the campaign by displaying the WFD posters and sending out related information to customers at the check-out counters on October 15-16.

“It calls for joint efforts of the whole society to preserve water resources and defend food security. We are indebted to all the participants of the WFD Pro-Bono Lighting Campaign, because you have made more people aware of the WFD, enhance their understanding of the importance of food security, and bring about effective advances in achieving the sustainable development goals,” said Sheikh Alhaduzzaman.