2022 World Food Day: Leaving No One Behind

25 October 2022, Washington, DC - Amid deteriorating global food security, this year World Food Day was marked under theme of “Leaving No One Behind,” with the aim of building a sustainable world where everyone, everywhere has regular access to enough nutritious food.

World Food Day celebrates the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 16 October 1945 in Quebec, Canada, and promotes global action to end hunger and ensure healthy diets for all.

To celebrate the date in North America, the FAO Liaison Office for North America collaborated with Food Tank and Ohio State University among others to bring a wide range of experts for a summit to explore ways to transform agrifood systems to foster inclusive economic growth, address inequalities, increase resilience and achieve sustainable development in Columbus, Ohio.

On the date, the President of the United States, the U.S. Department of State and USAID Administrator all issued World Food Day statements. The 2021-22 U.S. Senate and House World Food Day Resolutions called for the people of the United States to express their concern for the plight of hungry and malnourished people worldwide by taking action and marking 16 October as World Food Day. Congressional leaders also shared their efforts to build a food-secure future.

In Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Global Affairs Canada, along with parliamentarians shared the importance of food and agriculture to promote sustainable development. Across Canada, the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, 3D Toronto sign and the High Level Bridge of Edmonton were among serval of the key global icons that turned blue to highlight World Food Day. Jocelyn Brown Hall, Director of FAO North America, participated in interviews with Anu Radha Newstalk Sauga 960 AM and Global News 980 CFPL – London.

In Washington, DC, a bean-inspired supper co-hosted by FAO North America, Slow Food USA, and Slow Food DC gathered diverse stakeholders to recognize the invaluable role that beans playing in promoting biodiversity, healthy diets, and climate change mitigation.  

The 2022 World Food Day Food Hereos featured Chef, Writer and TV Host, Sophia Roe from Brooklyn, New York, and Jacob Beaton and Jessica Ouellette, co-founders of Tea Creek, an Indigenous-led training hub that provides a culturally safe space for local First Nations to learn a variety of skills.   

The week following World Food Day, FAO North America participated in the World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa, and hosted a side event entitled, Harnessing Agricultural Innovation to Combat the Climate Crisis. In Rome, the World Food Forum, gathered youth from around the world to mobilize action for agrifood systems transformation. As part of the Forum, FAO North America in partnership with Planet Forward convened a satellite side event Youth Stories and Innovations for a Food Forward World. The Forum also featured the Science and Innovation Forum as well as the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum.

Resources

Check out the 2022 World Food Day Twitter Moment