World Food Day commemorations gain a new momentum in Switzerland

18/10/2021

FAO Geneva, the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture and other partners, joined hands to commemorate World Food Day (WFD) in 2021 with a series of activities organized in Geneva and throughout Switzerland. The extensive engagement of partners and the public made this year’s activities a milestone in the history of WFD celebrations in the country.

World Food Day in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic

This is the second time that World Food Day 2021 is being marked during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The widespread effects of the pandemic continue to be felt by countries across the world. From the disruption of agri-food systems and global economic downturn, to an increase in food insecurity and inequality, the pandemic has exposed the fragility of our societies, but it has also shown how people can come together towards a common goal. As a global community, we can overcome these challenging times and create a better future – one that is more sustainable for present and future generations.

A call for action for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind

The way we produce, consume and sadly waste food is exerting a heavy toll on our planet, putting unnecessary pressure on natural resources, the environment and the climate. Food production too often degrades or destroys natural habitats and contributes to the extinction of species. Such inefficiency is costing us trillions of dollars, but more importantly, today’s agri-food systems are exposing profound inequalities and injustices in our global society. Three billion people cannot afford healthy diets.

A message from the President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmellin

The commemorations for World Food Day started with a message from the President of the Swiss Confederation, who called upon everyone to play a role and to contribute towards the sustainable transformation of food systems. “Our actions are our future. To ensure healthy, sufficient, diversified, and sustainable food for all inhabitants in the world, in the face of climate change, loss of biodiversity and shortage of natural resources, are among the greatest challenges that our societies are confronting today”, he underscored. Switzerland has been very much engaged in the preparations of the UN Food Systems Summit and is looking forward to its follow-up actions. Switzerland is also strongly engaged in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the delivery of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Gare Cornavin World Food Day Exhibition

Organized by the FAO Office in Geneva, the Federal Office for Agriculture of Switzerland, the Partage Foundation, the Geneva food bank and Ville de Genève/MA-Terre, the World Food Day 2021 Exhibition Stand at the Geneva central station (Gare Cornavin) was one of the main activities in Switzerland for a consecutive year. Organized for two days this year on 15 and 16 October and taking all COVID-19 preventative measures requested by the Federal Office of Health of Switzerland, the Gare Cornavin Exhibition contributed to raising awareness of the need for more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems. It also included a call for action across sectors to contribute to the transformation that is needed to ensure these systems deliver enough affordable, nutritious and safe food for all. A highlight of the campaign was the Partage soup, made from unsold vegetables, which was served to the public by Geneva personalities from the world of media, culture, sports and politics. During the two-day event, several other activities were also organized by our partners, contributing to widespread engagement of the public and making this years’ Exhibition a great success.

World Food Day Digital Advertising Campaign

World Food Day 2021 was celebrated beyond Geneva this year, thanks to another very innovative and creative activity – the WFD 2021 digital campaign. Organized by FAO and the Federal Office for Agriculture of Switzerland (OFAG/FOAG), the digital advertising campaign promoted the WFD 2021 message through e-board panels in major train stations across Switzerland, including Geneva, Lausanne, Basel, Zurich, Bern and Bellinzona. Visitors shared their images from all corners of Switzerland, making the commemorations one of the most impactful ever.

World Food Day 2021 Virtual Event “Celebrating efforts to strengthen local food systems for displaced and host communities”

FAO, UNHCR and WFP in Geneva held a virtual event to celebrate World Food Day 2021. The event provided an opportunity to highlight ways in which displaced populations are engaging in local food systems around the world in order to strengthen their resilience. Building on the momentum of the UN Food Systems Summit held during the UN General Assembly in New York on 23 September 2021, this event brought together frontline stakeholders and resource partners. Through showcasing examples from a range of contexts, the event emphasized how the inclusion of displaced people into local food systems can contribute to greater food security and socio-economic prosperity for them and their host communities. A dynamic panel discussion featured representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, South Sudan and Uganda.

Displaced people and host communities’ contribution to local food systems

FAO, UNHCR and WFP in Geneva also teamed up with Cuisine Lab and Mater Fondazione to prepare and distribute lunch boxes to vulnerable people in Geneva, including refugees. Prepared by refugee chefs from Cuisine Lab, this initiative showcased the rich contribution displaced people make to our food systems; and how their inclusion can facilitate socio-economic, food security and cultural benefits for both displaced and host populations. Lunch boxes were distributed by Mater Fondazione with support from the following associations: Bateau Genève, Caravane sans Frontières, Première Ligne and The Salvation Army.

UNOG Cafeteria partnership with Eldora

Building on our partnership with Eldora in previous years, the cafeteria of UNOG joined the commemorations of World Food Day 2021. Eldora highlighted products from the agri-food system: cereals, milk and potatoes. Eldora also had the "hero of the day”, which showcased a "hero" product (cereals, milk, potatoes), and presented it in the digital advertising initiative. Additionally, a special menu was promoted for each day in the period from 13 to 15 October.

Innovation award presented for the second time by Switzerland and FAO

Innovation plays an important role in the future of food and agriculture, in the face of environmental challenges. It also helps to improve food security and nutrition for everyone. Given the importance of these issues, Switzerland and FAO launched the International Innovation Award for Sustainable Food and Agriculture in 2018, with the aim of rewarding and supporting entrepreneurs who successfully implement outstanding projects. The award not only recognizes digital innovation, but also new and existing practices and products that are used to increase effectiveness, competitiveness and resilience. The second International Innovation Award for Sustainable Food and Agriculture was announced at the first World Food Forum, which was held from 1 to 5 October. From the more than 400 nominations submitted, three projects have been awarded a prize of USD 20 000 each.

Geneva Jet d'Eau embraces World Food Day 2021 commemorations – illumination of Geneva's famous fountain in Blue

The week-long events to mark World Food Day 2021 concluded with the illumination of the Jet d’eau, the symbol of Geneva, in blue, during the evening of 16 October from 18:30 until 22:30. The public was invited to enjoy the beautiful view of an open-air Exhibition in the heart of Geneva, organized in partnership with the Services Industriels de Genève (SIG). There couldn’t have been a better way to close the World Food Day 2021 campaign. FAO Geneva and our partners marked this important UN day reinforcing our call for action towards a sustainable transformation of our food systems – a transformation that each one of us has a way to contribute to! Our actions are our future! Let’s make sure we do our part in building a sustainable agri-food system for Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life!

Related links:

World Food Day Commemorations 2021 – Check out for FAO Geneva and Partners' activities in Switzerland.

Message from President of the Swiss Confederation, H.E. Guy Parmellin, on the occasion of World Food Day 2021, highlighting that everybody has a role to play in the efforts towards more sustainable food systems.

Campaign at Geneva Gare Cornavin train station organized by the Federal Office of Agriculture, the Partage foundation, the Geneva food bank and Ville de Genève/Ma-Terre. We can all take action and make a positive impact on agri-food system transformation. Our actions are our future! Check out more here.

A first-ever WFD digital advertising campaign in main train stations throughout Switzerland in different languages, with the WFD 2021 message reaching a broad audience in all corners of Switzerland.

On World Food Day, FAO, UNHCR and WFP called for strengthened and inclusive local food systems for displaced and host communities. The UN agencies highlighted that the most vulnerable are hardest hit by food insecurity, driven by conflict, displacement, economic and climate crises, and the effects of COVID-19.

To close the #WorldFoodDay 2021 commemorations in Switzerland, the famous Geneva Jet d'Eau, an open-air exhibition at the heart of city, was illuminated blue! No better way to close the week-long events for #WFD2021.

Journal 22 October of the PODCAST - ONU Info Genève featured Dominique Burgeon, Director of FAO Geneva, to mark the occasion of WFD 2021.

In the interview of the Geneve International website of the Canton of Geneva, Dominique Burgeon, Director of FAO Geneva, highlighted the importance and value of FAO’s work. A focus was given to the commemorations of WFD 2021 and the role of partnership with local actors, which contributed to making the celebrations in Switzerland a great success in 2021.

Ahead of WFD 2021, FAO and WFP joined the UN Geneva bi-weekly press conference, on 12 October 2021, to brief Geneva-based correspondents on the WFD 2021 activities organized in Switzerland.

DIRECT NEWS extensively covered the World Food Day Gare Cornavin Exhibition held on 15 and 16 October in the main hall of the Geneva train station.

Tribune de Genève made reference to the World Food Day commemorations to raise public awareness and provide information on the Gare Cornavin Exhibition.

World Food Day 2021 Tweets

World Food Day Commemorations 2021 - Check out for FAO Geneva and Partners’ Activities in Switzerland

https://twitter.com/FAOGeneva/status/1448628705471967238?s=20

Message from the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr Guy Parmelin

https://twitter.com/DefrWbf/status/1449268879591555073?s=20

World Food Day 2021 Gare Cornavin Exhibition

https://twitter.com/FAOGeneva/status/1449692705530032130?s=20

https://twitter.com/FAOGeneva/status/1448938109211643909?s=20

Digital Campaign in Switzerland train stations

https://twitter.com/FAOGeneva/status/1449003662844600344?s=20

https://twitter.com/CHblw/status/1449337579518808071?s=20

https://twitter.com/CHblw/status/1448868606163529728?s=20