World Food Day 2024 and the State of Global Food Security

World Food Day is celebrated annually on October 16 (Wikimedia Commons).

Today, billions of people will be unable to afford a healthy meal. Tonight, millions more will go to bed hungry. Established to commemorate the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945, World Food Day draws attention to the pressing need for global food security. Despite ongoing international efforts, 733 million people worldwide, or one in every 11 people, still go hungry every day, and nearly 3 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet—staggering indicators of the work that still remains.

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture aims to protect the environment and safeguard natural resources, with a focus on three key areas: environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Sustainable agriculture demands a collaborative approach among various stakeholders, including farmers, consumers, farmworkers, policymakers, and others. Compared to conventional farming, sustainable agriculture practices are much more environmentally-friendly, being capable of reducing energy use by up to 56 percent per crop unit and generate 64 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions per hectare. Additionally, these practices foster increased biodiversity, creating more resilient ecosystems, that are better able to withstand extreme weather patterns, such as drought. Sustainable agriculture aligns with the four pillars of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability. As such, it is the first step in eliminating hunger.

Reduced Food Waste

Roughly one trillion dollars worth of food is wasted annually. The FAO estimates that between 30 and 40 percent of total food production is lost before reaching the market, with 14 percent of production lost between harvest and retail due to storage and transportation issues. While significant amounts of food are prematurely thrown away at the retail level, with grocery stores routinely throwing out deformed or expired food, households are the primary source of food waste, with over 60 percent of food waste occurring at this level. The problem is particularly pronounced in warmer regions, where high temperatures pose challenges for food storage, processing, and transport, leading to food spoiling faster. Not only does food waste pose severe economic harms, but it is also a significant driver of climate change, contributing up to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This situation is untenable in a world where millions of people experience hunger each day. Research indicates that saving just a quarter of lost or wasted food could potentially end global hunger. 

Climate Change and Its Impact on Food Security

While food production is a major source of pollution, climate change is also one of the most significant drivers of today’s food insecurity, with natural disasters and rising temperatures affecting crop yields. The COP28 Declaration on Food and Agriculture stressed the need for sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems to combat climate change and achieve the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global greenhouse gas emissions. Key measures outlined in the declaration include scaling up adaptation and resilience efforts to protect food producers from climate change impacts, promoting food security and nutrition by supporting vulnerable populations, and supporting agricultural workers facing livelihood threats due to climate change. Fighting climate change is crucial for the livelihoods of farmers, fishermen, and other agricultural workers who depend on a stable climate for their work. 

The COP29 Presidency has reiterated this call ahead of the COP29 meeting this November, arguing that climate finance must play a more substantial role in supporting sustainable agricultural practices. Only four percent of global climate finance reached agrifood systems between 2019 and 2020, and the estimated 680 billion dollars needed annually to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals remains a far-off target.

Inequality in Food Access and Production

Food crises often disproportionately affect those already suffering from hunger due to violence, displacement, or economic difficulties. The FAO highlights that unhealthy diets are not only a health crisis but also a marker of deep social inequalities. More than 2.8 billion people struggle to afford nutritious food. In low-income communities, families stretch thin budgets, often resorting to cheap, processed foods out of necessity, while fresh fruits and vegetables remain a luxury. With great food prices comes great human cost, manifesting in various forms of malnutrition, including undernutrition and obesity.

The consequences of poor nutrition are far-reaching, impacting maternal and child health, weakening immune systems, complicating pregnancies, and increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. Adequate nutrition not only boosts productivity but also helps break the cycles of poverty and hunger, creating opportunities for a healthier, more equitable future.

Empowering women in agriculture is one of the most effective pathways to reducing hunger and achieving food security. The FAO emphasizes the need to not only diversify the crops that are being grown but also diversifying who participates in and leads food production. Promoting gender equality in agrifood is essential not only for ethical reasons but also for building resilient food systems that can withstand environmental and economic pressures. By involving women more in agriculture, we tap into underutilized labor, skills, and perspectives, leading to greater innovation, efficiency, and resilience in food systems.

Mobilizing Global Action

The theme for World Food Day 2024 is “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future,” which highlights the universal right to nutritious, affordable, and safe food. The call to action is clear: food systems must be reformed to support sustainable agriculture, reduce food waste, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The integration of climate finance with food security initiatives remains critical. By scaling up collaboration and investment to transform our agrifood systems, the world can not only address hunger and malnutrition but also to mitigate climate change and achieve broader sustainable development goals.

Your Role in Global Food Security

The flagship global ceremony takes place on October 16 at 10 a.m. CET, with the Junior World Food Day School Assembly taking place on October 17 at 10 a.m. CET. Tune in to the live stream for both events to participate globally. The FAO encourages everyone to help raise awareness online with the hashtag #WorldFoodDay. Additionally, simple actions like cutting food waste and donating to local food banks can make a significant difference any time of the year. Organizations in DC include DC Central Kitchen, Capital Area Food Bank, and Martha’s Table, among many others. 

For more information, visit the FAO’s official page at https://fao.org.

If you are a member of the Georgetown University community experiencing food insecurity, the Hoya Hub food pantry is stocked with non-perishable food items, available to anyone who needs nutritious food on an immediate, emergency basis to cover short breaks or other unplanned gaps in access to meals. Visit https://studentaffairs.georgetown.edu/foodpantry/ to learn more.