Transforming food systems through the power of photography
The winners of the FAO World Food Day photo contest for Europe and Central Asia announced
©FAO/Didor Sadulloev
22/12/2021
For each and every one of us, food tells a story. It starts with agriculture, and our actions influence its journey, each step of the way. The food we choose and the way we consume it affects our health and that of our planet - making all of us part of the food system.
We have one planet and we are part of one system. We must work together to build a better future. We need to reconnect with nature and work together as one.
Let us rewrite the story of food for a better, more sustainable world.
The 2021 FAO World Food Day photo contest for Europe and Central Asia inspired many, regardless of their age or nationality, to share what food and food systems mean to them. Discover the winning photos and their messages!
First place
The winning photo came from Didor Sadulloev in Tajikistan, capturing production of greenhouse tomatoes, embedded into wider socio-economic trends, such as migration and gender issues.
“Most of the people in Tajikistan are engaged in agricultural production, some have their own small private business,” explained Sadulloev. “When men go to Russia or other countries for employment, all the work lands on the women's shoulders.”
©FAO/Lilia Shaligina ; ©FAO/Lasha Gegechkori
Second place
“There is nothing more valuable than health, and quality produce make us healthy,” noted Lilia Shaligina, who won second place. “It is best to grow them yourself in the garden. There are no harmful chemicals. Eating a healthy diet will make our life better!”
Third place
“I love taking pictures and I am very much interested in nature and agriculture," said Lasha Gegechkori from Georgia who won third place. “I believe, agriculture, healthy diets, and producing our own food has a very strong impact on our lives. My picture – a beautifully growing bean – represents the beginning of life and the awakening of nature.”
“I have a rather indirect relationship with agriculture, only as a consumer. I am a photographer and I am very interested in catching beautiful scenes from life, in particular, rural life,” said Natalya Chunina, from Uzbekistan who shared third place with the Georgian photographer. “This photo was taken near the village of Chetsu, in Akhangaran district of the Tashkent region. It shows the lunch of a rural family, in between cleaning their garden from weeds and preparing the grass for livestock feed. Through this photo I would like to draw attention to the uniqueness of agricultural workers in Uzbekistan, their hard work and sincerity that, despite technological developments and the full mechanization of agriculture, human hands, skills and abilities acquired from fathers and grandfathers have remained of great importance.”
©FAO/Natalya Chunina
About World Food Day
Collective action across 150 countries is what makes #WorldFoodDay (16 October) one of the most celebrated days in the UN calendar. Hundreds of events and outreach activities bring together governments, businesses, NGOs, media, and the public, to promote worldwide awareness and action for those suffering from hunger, and for the need to ensure healthy diets for all.
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